The situation of conflict-related sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a major concern, as evidenced by data recently published by the United Nations Joint Human Rights Office (UNJHRO) for the month of August 2024. These figures highlight a slight decrease compared to the previous month, but unfortunately underscore the persistence of these heinous acts.
During the month of August, the UNJHRO documented 12 incidents of sexual violence involving 20 victims, all women. These figures, although down from July, reveal the cruelty and brutality of the acts committed. Among these incidents, eight were gang rapes, testifying to the extreme violence these women have faced. Some of these rapes were accompanied by torture and executions, thus amplifying the horror of the situation.
The main perpetrators of this violence remain armed groups, such as the M23, the Wazalendo VDP, the Wazalendo/Nyatura ACNDH and others. These groups have committed unspeakable acts against these women, violating not only their physical integrity, but also their dignity and humanity. State agents, including members of the FARDC, have also been responsible for some of the cases recorded, highlighting the need to fight impunity and ensure that the perpetrators of these horrors are brought to justice.
These acts of sexual violence have been mainly concentrated in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri, reflecting the fragile security situation in these regions. The UNJHRO continues to closely monitor the human rights situation in the DRC and share its analyses with local authorities, in order to demand concrete measures to protect vulnerable populations and to fight impunity.
It is essential that the international community remains mobilized in the face of this atrocious violence and provides unwavering support to the victims. It is also imperative that the Congolese authorities take concrete measures to prevent such acts, to protect women and to ensure that justice is done. Impunity can no longer be tolerated, and it is time to act decisively to put an end to these violations of fundamental rights.