Recent UNICEF statistics reveal a dramatic increase in sexual violence against children in eastern Congo, attributed to rampant conflict fueled by ethnic tensions and resource disputes. Over 170 cases were documented in just one week, raising urgent concerns about the safety of vulnerable populations.
Alarming Rise in Child Sexual Violence in Eastern Congo, UNICEF Reports
Alarming Rise in Child Sexual Violence in Eastern Congo, UNICEF Reports
A surge in reported sexual violence against children has emerged amidst escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with UNICEF citing alarming figures.
Sexual violence against children in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has surged dramatically, with UNICEF reporting on Thursday that recent fighting amid escalating ethnic tensions and disputes over land and resource control has led to grave violations. Health care facilities in Goma and surrounding areas documented 170 cases of child rapes within a single week, which spanned from January 27 to February 2. In that same period, a total of 572 rape cases were recorded, vastly exceeding the average of 95 in prior weeks.
According to Lianne Gutcher, UNICEF's communication chief for the region, armed men from multiple factions in the conflict are responsible for this distressing spike in sexual violence. The human rights violations against children have been echoed by Save the Children, which has also observed a troubling trend of increasing abuses.
The armed rebel group M23, reportedly backed by Rwanda, has been rapidly seizing significant territories within Congo, routing the country’s poorly equipped military multiple times. The capture of Goma, a city housing three million residents near the Rwandan border, has resulted in the displacement of over half a million people.
While Rwanda's president refutes claims of military support for the rebels, M23 claims to represent the interests of ethnic Tutsis, a group that suffered unspeakable atrocities during the 1994 genocide; however, experts suggest their intentions are grounded in gaining control over Congo’s rich mineral resources.
UNICEF’s executive director, Catherine Russell, confirmed that the levels of sexual violence against children reported from North and South Kivu provinces are unprecedented, indicating a severe crisis for vulnerable populations. Medical personnel in the area are fast depleting supplies of vital drugs to prevent HIV infection following assaults.
Save the Children highlighted numerous distressing accounts, including a mother whose six daughters, the youngest just 12 years old, faced systematic rape while searching for food. Additionally, reports surfaced of a 16-year-old girl being killed while resisting armed men.
Despite the current chaos, M23 leaders have pledged to restore order and stability within the regions they have captured.
