Sexual violence against children “entrenched” and rising across Democratic Republic of the Congo – UNICEF

[Jim Burton]

https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/s ... c-republic

Sexual violence against children is endemic, systemic, and worsening across the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), according to a new UNICEF report released today. While conflict remains a major driver, the report shows cases documented in communities across every province and rising sharply since 2022.

As shown in the report, nationwide data compiled by protection and gender-based violence service providers indicate that more than 35,000 cases of sexual violence against children were recorded nationwide in the first nine months of 2025, pointing to a crisis that continues to escalate. In 2024, nearly 45,000 cases against children were recorded, accounting for almost 40 per cent of all reported sexual violence cases – three times higher than in 2022.