A recent United Nations report has revealed a devastating epidemic of sexual violence throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), describing it as both systemic and deeply entrenched within the nation. Shockingly, over 35,000 cases were officially documented within just the first three quarters of 2025. Preliminary data from the previous year paints an even grimmer picture for conflict-affected regions, indicating that cases reported in the first half of 2024 may constitute over 80% of the total annual figure. UNICEF, the UN’s children’s agency, has issued a stark warning that these already staggering numbers likely represent a significant undercount of the true crisis. The organization emphasized that countless victims remain silenced due to pervasive fear, intense social stigmatization, ongoing security threats, and critically limited access to support services and safe reporting mechanisms. The eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, and Ituri bear the heaviest burden of this violence. In these regions, relentless armed conflict, mass population displacements, and the complete collapse of community protection systems have created a perfect storm of risk and vulnerability. While adolescent girls are identified as the demographic most severely impacted across the country, the report also highlights that boys are subjected to these horrific acts, though their cases are vastly underreported due to additional layers of stigma and shame.