Overview

• UNICEF has highlighted systematic sexual violence against minors, including kindergarten-aged children, by fighters in eastern Congo.
• In January and February 2025 alone, over 10,000 cases of sexual violence were reported, with nearly 45% involving minors.
• The M23 rebel group, allegedly supported by Rwanda, has captured Goma, displacing more than 230,000 people and intensifying the conflict.
• A 13-year-old rape survivor required a cesarean section due to physical undevelopment, underscoring the devastating impact of the violence on children.
• Cuts to international humanitarian aid are severely limiting medical care for survivors, including treatments to prevent HIV infections.