News from the Field

In Focus: Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Sexual Violence in the DRC

The war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is formally over, but women and girls remain targets for violence. Physical and economic insecurity still characterize the lives of women and girls.

Today, the Congolese army, security sector personnel, and several armed groups still use sexual violence as a weapon of war in the DRC.Further, international actors, including UN personnel, have been implicated in perpetrating sexual violence in the DRC.Armed actors have targetted women and girls in the streets, fields, and homes.These assaults take many forms, including sexual slavery, kidnapping, forced recruitment, forced prostitution, and rape. The Congolese victims of sexual violence also include men and boys, who have suffered rape, sexual humiliation, and genital mutilation.Read More