Dr Denis Mukwege, gave a powerful and engaging speech when he addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week.

He has dedicated his life to campaigning and caring for women who have endured and been victims of terrible sexual crimes and sexual crimes of war. Dr Mukwege, a world expert in his field, is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and specialised as a gynaecologist after he witnessed the poor post birth care many Congolese women received.

He was at the European Parliament to receive the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. And his speech left us all feeling humbled and confirmed him to be a most deserving recipient of this accolade.

You can read more on my blog here and this news report here.

Media giant Bloomberg has announced that all news stories published by Bloomberg journalists must include at least one woman’s voice and preferably a balance of both men and women. In his weekly email to staff, Matthew Winkler, Bloomberg’s News editor in chief said that the company’s news stories must ensure that ‘women are engage in every topic we cover. Our journalism should reflect that variety.”

It’s thought to be the first time any such ‘quota for quotes’ has been requested by a news chief and no doubt some will be concerned about how they will be able to find a female quote for every story. Of course, it will be a drag to begin with. But its bold declarations like these which require people to take action-even if initially it’s reluctantly-that will slowly change how people view the world.

It was a brave statement but a clever and shrewd move, which will keep Bloomberg’s news at the cutting edge.

I hope  this may force other publishing houses to consider making similar noises or even make them  consider following suit. You can read more on the story here.