The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to grapple with a humanitarian crisis that disproportionately affects children, with escalating violence claiming young lives and futures.
According to the latest report from the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, grave violations against children surged by 8% between April 2022 and March 2024, highlighting the devastating impact of the ongoing unrest.
Harrowing Statistics
The UN Security Council report identifies 8,208 grave violations affecting 6,196 children, with boys comprising the majority of the victims.
Forced recruitment into armed groups, murders, and mutilations are among the most common abuses, with 4,006 children forcibly conscripted, often through abduction.
The North Kivu and South Kivu provinces remain the epicenters of these atrocities, compounded by the progressive withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO.
Virginia Gamba, the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, expressed her alarm over the findings: “The rise in child killings and mutilations is deeply troubling.
Warring parties must immediately stop targeting civilians, especially children, and refrain from using explosive weapons in populated areas.”
Sexual Violence: A Persistent Horror
Sexual violence against children remains a critical concern, with the report documenting horrific cases, including forced marriages and sexual slavery.
Girls as young as 12 have been victimized by armed groups and government security forces alike.
Gamba urged the Congolese government to intensify efforts to hold perpetrators accountable, stating, “I call on the government to ensure those responsible for these acts face justice.”
Glimmers of Hope
Amid the bleakness, progress is being made.
Advocacy efforts by the UN have facilitated the release of more than 12,000 children from armed groups, with many receiving psychosocial, educational, and economic support to rebuild their lives.
Justice has also taken a step forward: in September 2022, Ghislaine Kavira, a member of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), was sentenced to 20 years in prison for child recruitment.
An Urgent Call for Global Action
As MONUSCO phases out its presence in certain areas, the UN has emphasized the need to sustain resources dedicated to child protection.
“The withdrawal of MONUSCO must not equate to abandoning Congo’s children,” the report warns.
With over 15 million children in need of humanitarian assistance and millions more deprived of education, the DRC faces an unprecedented crisis.
The UN calls on national and international stakeholders to intensify efforts to safeguard children and uphold their fundamental rights. Without concerted global intervention, the country risks condemning an entire generation to the perils of conflict and instability.
