On Friday, the United Nations condemned the widespread sexual abuse of children in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, reporting that thousands were victims of rape during the first two months of 2025.

While the region has endured prolonged conflict for decades, the situation has worsened recently due to advances by the M23 rebel group, which the global community accuses Rwanda of backing — an allegation the Rwandan government denies.

“The rate of sexual violence against children has never been higher,” warned James Elder of the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF, demanding action.

“Early reports show that children make up between 35 to 45 percent of the nearly 10,000 cases of rape and sexual violence reported… in just January and February of this year,” he told reporters in Geneva, speaking from Goma.

“In short, based on initial data, … during the most intense phase of this year’s conflict in eastern DRC, a child was raped every half an hour.”

The conflict has killed thousands, driven vast numbers from their homes and left children even more vulnerable to the rampant sexual violence that has plagued the region for years.

“We are not talking about isolated incidents,” Elder said, decrying “a systemic crisis”.

“We are seeing survivors as young as toddlers,” he warned.

“It is a weapon of war and a deliberate tactic of terror. And it destroys families and communities.”

Elder stressed that the horrifying numbers could “just the tip of the iceberg, hidden beneath layers of fear, stigma, and insecurity”.

This, he said, “should shake us to our core. Certainly it should compel urgent and collective action”.

Elder called for “additional prevention efforts, survivor-centred services, and safe, accessible ways for survivors to report abuse without fear”.

“Survivors must see the world stand with them, not turn away. And perpetrators must face justice.”