The agency reported that sexual violence is deeply rooted in the DRC and is systemic, with more than 35,000 cases registered in the first nine months of 2025.
Preliminary data from last year also suggest that, in conflict zones, the cases reported in the first half of the year could represent more than 80% of the total documented in 2024.
UNICEF warned that the actual number of victims may be higher, due to a lack of reporting, primarily due to fear, stigmatization, insecurity, and limited access to services, particularly in areas of armed conflict.
UNICEF warned that the actual number of victims may be higher, due to a lack of reporting, mainly due to fear, stigmatization, insecurity, and limited access to services, particularly in areas of armed conflict.
The most affected provinces are precisely those in the east of the country: North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri, where violence, displacement, and the weakening of protection systems increase the risks, the report noted.
Teen girls are currently the most affected nationwide, but boys are also victims of sexual violence, although they remain significantly underrepresented in reported cases.
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