UN Report Reveals Alarming Surge in Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
A new United Nations report uncovers a staggering 25% increase in conflict-related sexual violence in 2024, documenting over 4,600 survivors across 21 countries. This unsettling trend highlights the alarming escalation of sexual violence as a weapon of war and control, reports 24brussels.
The highest number of cases was recorded in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Somalia, and South Sudan, according to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. In the eastern Congo’s Kivu region, health professionals treated more than 17,000 victims within just five months amid intensified clashes between Congolese forces and M23 rebels.
The report categorizes violations such as rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, and violence in detention, which are frequently employed to extract information or humiliate individuals. The victims’ ages spanned from one to 75 years old, with women and girls constituting 92% of the documented cases. However, it is essential to note that men, boys, and individuals with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities were also victims.
A total of 63 state and non-state actors are named in the report’s annex, indicating a credible suspicion of their involvement in these abhorrent practices. These entities are now subject to the UN Security Council’s counter-terrorism sanctions regime, which explicitly includes sexual and gender-based violence as offenses warranting sanctions.
The report articulates multiple obstacles to justice and care, including stigma, restricted humanitarian access, and destruction of healthcare facilities. Additionally, attacks on frontline service providers hinder survivors’ access to critical assistance.
In light of these challenges, the UN has called for greater accountability, urging Security Council sanctions committees to focus on habitual offenders and demanding compliance with international humanitarian law by conflicting parties.
The Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Multi-Partner Trust Fund (CRSV-MPTF) has played a pivotal role in advancing survivor-centered initiatives across the UN system in 2024, particularly in complex conflict areas.
Despite the grim findings, the report highlights that some parties have made formal commitments to combat these crimes, and community-based initiatives have emerged to mitigate stigma and enhance reporting.
The UN emphasizes that the officially recorded figures likely underrepresent the true extent of this crisis, as many survivors remain silent due to fear, shame, or lack of support access.
As conflict zones continue to spread and humanitarian crises worsen, the UN calls for urgent global action to prevent sexual violence, safeguard survivors, and ensure accountability for perpetrators.
