UN reports alarming surge in child sexual violence in DR Congo

Conflict-driven sexual violence against children skyrockets in first months of 2025 as aid groups warn of a deepening protection crisis

 KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo (MNTV) – The United Nations has raised alarm over a sharp rise in sexual violence against children in the democratic republic of the congo (DRC), warning of a deepening crisis fueled by ongoing conflict and lawlessness.

According to UN data released this week, the first two months of 2025 have seen a staggering 35 percent increase in documented cases of sexual violence against children compared to the same period last year. In total, 1,149 cases were recorded — the vast majority involving girls, though boys are also increasingly targeted.

UNICEF and other aid agencies say that while sexual violence has long plagued eastern DRC, the current spike is unprecedented and linked to escalating clashes between government forces, militias, and armed groups.

“This is a brutal war against children’s bodies and dignity,” said Grant Leaity, UNICEF’s representative in the DRC. 

“We are seeing an intolerable level of suffering, with devastating physical and psychological impacts.”

Most of the abuses have been reported in conflict-ridden provinces such as North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri. 

Aid workers warn that displaced children living in camps, often without parental protection, are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and attack.

CNN investigations also highlight harrowing stories of young survivors — some as young as six years old — who have been gang-raped, trafficked, and abandoned without access to medical or psychological support.

Aid workers describe overwhelmed hospitals and shelters, with survivors often forced to wait weeks for care. 

“Some girls arrive bleeding, traumatized, and alone,” said a doctor at a clinic in Goma. “Many will carry the scars, both physical and emotional, for life.”

The United Nations has urged all parties to the conflict to immediately cease sexual violence and to respect international humanitarian law. 

They also call for urgent funding to expand protection services, legal aid, and survivor support programs.

Despite international condemnation, aid groups say sexual violence continues to be used as a tactic of war — a way to terrorize communities, force displacement, and exert control over contested territories.

Survivors often face stigma and rejection within their communities, further compounding their trauma. 

Child protection agencies are working to raise awareness and provide reintegration support, but resources remain stretched thin.

“Without decisive action, an entire generation risks being destroyed by violence and neglect,” said Leaity.

The UN is appealing for $2.6 billion in humanitarian funding for DRC in 2025 but says that less than 20 percent has been received so far. 

Aid officials warn that unless urgent steps are taken, the crisis could spiral even further out of control.

“Children must be protected, not preyed upon,” said Leaity. “The world must not look away.”