Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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December 29, 2025 Peace and security
Sexual violence against children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become a "systemic and entrenched crisis" that is rapidly worsening, according to a new report from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Cases of violence are being recorded in all provinces of the country, and their number has increased sharply since 2022.
According to data collected by protection services and organizations working to combat gender-based violence, more than 35,000 cases of sexual violence against children were recorded in the DRC in the first nine months of 2025 alone. In 2024, this number reached almost 45,000, accounting for approximately 40 percent of all documented cases of sexual violence in the country. This level is three times higher than in 2022.
UNICEF emphasizes that the true scale of the tragedy is likely much greater, as fear, stigma, lack of safety, and limited access to care prevent many victims from seeking support.
According to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, field staff are reporting stories of mothers walking for hours with their daughters to get them to a clinic after a sexual assault. Similar stories, she noted, are happening across the country and reflect a crisis fueled by inequality, instability, and weak protection systems.
Extreme risks for children
The situation remains most dire in North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, where ongoing conflicts, massive population displacement, and disrupted protection mechanisms pose extreme risks to children. Significant cases of violence are also recorded in the capital, Kinshasa, as well as in the Kasai region, where poverty, food shortages, and inadequate schooling increase girls' vulnerability to exploitation and early marriage.
Adolescent girls remain the most vulnerable group, and their share of victims of sexual violence continues to grow. Boys are also subjected to sexual violence, but such cases are significantly less frequently reported in official statistics. Children with disabilities face an even higher risk due to physical and social barriers that simultaneously increase their vulnerability and limit their access to assistance and justice.
The situation remains critical
Data verified by UN agencies show that in conflict-affected regions of the DRC, the rate of sexual violence against children was already high in 2022 and 2023, and has increased by nearly 30 percent in 2024. Preliminary data for the first half of 2025 indicate that the situation remains critical: the number of cases recorded in the first six months could exceed 80 percent of the total for the entire previous year.
The UNICEF report calls on the government, all parties to the conflict, civil society, and international partners to intensify efforts to end sexual violence, expand access to specialized services for survivors, strengthen measures to hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure sustainable funding for protection systems.
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