Save the Children, an organization focused on safeguarding access to healthcare, education, and safety for youth, reports a sharp rise in sexual violence targeting women and children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with 2,702 survivors receiving assistance between January and July 2025, which is over four times last year’s figure. The country’s health ministry estimates around 73,400 total cases during that period, with nearly one-third involving girls under the age of 16. Humanitarian aid reductions have worsened the crisis by limiting access to necessary supplies. The surge has largely been linked to intensified fighting between government forces and the M23 rebel group, which has weaponized sexual violence.
Complied from: Monika Pronczuk, “DRC: Dramatic Spike in Sexual Violence Amid Escalating Conflict,” Associated Press, Sept. 4, 2025.