Escalating violence in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has aggravated existing gender inequalities, increasing the vulnerability of women and girls. At a recent meeting with UN Women, women’s rights organizations expressed grave concerns about forced displacement, increased levels of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and shortcomings in protection and social services, disproportionately affecting women and girls. UN Women has called for urgent action to eliminate SGBV and hold perpetrators accountable, to ensure a gender-sensitive approach and women’s participation in the humanitarian response and peace processes, and to address structural inequalities in the long-term.
Compiled from: “Press briefing by UN Women on the situation of women and girls in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” UN Women, Feb. 4, 2025.