MOSCOW, December 10. /TASS/. The Nobel Peace Prize 2018 was awarded to physician Denis Mukwege from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraqi human rights activist Nadia Murad, a survivor of sex slavery by the Islamic State (outlawed in Russia), at the Oslo City Hall, in Norway, on Monday.

The winners were widely applauded.

"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2018 to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. Both laureates have made a crucial contribution to focusing attention on, and combating, such war crimes. Each of them in their own way has helped to give greater visibility to war-time sexual violence, so that the perpetrators can be held accountable for their actions," Berit Reiss-Andersen, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, noted.

"Mukwege has spent large parts of his adult life helping the victims of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo," reads the statement. "Dr. Mukwege and his staff have treated thousands of patients who have fallen victim to such assaults."

The statement goes on to say that "Nadia Murad is the witness who tells of the abuses perpetrated against herself and others." "She has shown uncommon courage in recounting her own sufferings and speaking up on behalf of other victims." Nadia Murad is just one of an estimated 3,000 Yazidi girls and women who were victims of rape and other abuses by the IS army," the Committee stated, pointing out that the abuses were systematic, and part of a military strategy.".