The United Nations has condemned the widespread sexual violence against children in the conflict-ridden eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with thousands of minors reportedly subjected to rape and other forms of sexual abuse in the first two months of 2025.
Eastern DRC has been plagued by decades of conflict, with recent months witnessing heightened tensions due to the advance of the M23 rebel group, which the international community alleges is backed by Rwanda. Kigali denies these accusations.
James Elder of the United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, warned that the level of sexual violence against children has reached unprecedented levels, calling for immediate action.
“Early reports indicate that children account for between 35 and 45 percent of the nearly 10,000 cases of rape and sexual violence recorded in just January and February of this year,” Elder said, speaking from Goma. “In simple terms, based on initial data, a child was raped every half an hour during the most intense phase of this year’s conflict in eastern DRC.”
The ongoing conflict has already resulted in thousands of deaths and forced millions to flee their homes, leaving children even more vulnerable to sexual violence.
“This is not a matter of isolated incidents,” Elder emphasised. “What we are witnessing is a systemic crisis.”
He further described the atrocities as a weapon of war and a deliberate tactic of terror, noting the devastating impact on families and entire communities.
Elder also warned that the reported figures may represent just the “tip of the iceberg,” with many cases likely hidden due to fear, stigma, and insecurity.
“This should shock us to our core,” he said, urging the international community to take swift, collective action. “It is essential that we ramp up prevention efforts, provide survivor-centred services, and ensure that survivors have accessible, safe avenues to report abuse without fear.”
He concluded by stressing that survivors need to feel supported by the world, not abandoned, and that those responsible for such heinous acts must face justice.
