Dr Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Member of The Elders, will deliver the sixth Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address on 15 October 2026 in Geneva. The event will also mark the inaugural presentation of the Kofi Annan Geneva Youth Peace Prize.
The Kofi Annan Foundation, Geneva Graduate Institute, and Geneva Peacebuilding Platform are pleased to announce that Dr Denis Mukwege will deliver the 2026 Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address on 15 October 2026 in Geneva.
The sixth edition of the Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address will take place as the closing event of the Geneva Peace Forum 2026, under the theme Choose Peace.
A Congolese gynaecologist, human rights advocate and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Dr Mukwege has dedicated his life to supporting survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and advocating for justice, accountability and peace.
Through Panzi Hospital and the Panzi Foundation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he has pioneered a holistic approach to supporting survivors of sexual violence, combining medical treatment with psychosocial support, legal assistance and socio-economic empowerment. His advocacy has helped bring international attention to the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and the need to hold perpetrators accountable.
Dr Mukwege is also a Member of The Elders, the independent group of global leaders working together for peace, human rights and a sustainable planet.
A new generation of peacebuilders
This year’s Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address will also mark the inaugural Kofi Annan Geneva Youth Peace Prize, established by the Kofi Annan Foundation, the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform and the Geneva Graduate Institute.
The Prize recognises an exceptional young peacebuilder aged 18–30 whose work reflects Kofi Annan’s values of dialogue, courage, inclusion, integrity and innovation.
The inaugural Laureate will receive international recognition, opportunities to build new partnerships, participation in the Geneva Peace Forum and a CHF 5,000 award to support their future work.
“Peace must be sought, above all, because it is the condition for every member of the human family to live a life of dignity and security.”
Kofi Annan
Following the Peace Address, Dr Mukwege and the inaugural Youth Peace Prize Laureate will take part in an intergenerational conversation exploring how established and emerging leaders can work together to prevent conflict, foster inclusive dialogue, promote justice and build sustainable peace.
The conversation will reflect the spirit of this year’s Geneva Peace Forum theme, “Choose Peace,” and the importance of courageous leadership, collective action and intergenerational cooperation in addressing today’s global challenges.
Join us
Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address 2026
15 October 2026 | 17:00–18:30 CEST
CICG, Geneva
The event will be available to attend in person and online. Registration via the Geneva Peace Forum website is mandatory. In-person seating is first come, first served.
The Kofi Annan Geneva Peace Address and inaugural Kofi Annan Geneva Youth Peace Prize are presented by the Kofi Annan Foundation, Geneva Peacebuilding Platform and Geneva Graduate Institute, with the support of the Republic and State of Geneva and the City of Geneva.
Featured image: Dr Denis Mukwege, The Elders
