Sexual violence remains a devastating emergency in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where armed conflict continues to fuel mass displacement and brutal attacks, particularly against women and girls.
According to Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières / MSF), nearly 40,000 survivors of sexual violence were treated in 2024 in North Kivu alone — a grim record that has continued in 2025. Between January and April, 7,400 new victims received care near Goma, while over 2,400 more were treated in the nearby town of Saké. In South Kivu, MSF assisted nearly 700 survivors in the first quarter of 2025. The spike follows intensified fighting between the Congolese army, M23/AFC rebels, and allied militias, with all parties accused of committing atrocities. Rights groups report widespread rape at gunpoint, forced sexual acts in exchange for services, and sexual abuse in detention centers. Many survivors, fearing stigma and retaliation, do not seek justice.
As camps for displaced persons were dismantled earlier this year, vulnerable women—many caring for children alone — remain exposed to repeated abuse. Humanitarian organizations warn of a deepening crisis, worsened by international funding cuts. “The systematic use of rape as a weapon of war is not only a violation of human rights, but also a deliberate strategy to destabilize communities,” said Amadou Bocoum of Care International, which recorded 67,000 cases in early 2025 alone.
Activists urge immediate international attention, survivor protection, and full accountability for perpetrators. MSF has recently called on all parties to the conflict in eastern DRC to improve the safety of civilians and access to care for all and urged the international community to maintain care for survivors as a priority, despite the current funding cuts.