Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), a non-governmental organization that uses medicine and science to advocate for health and justice in conflict regions, recently released a report detailing the significant increases in sexual violence being committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by governmental, military forces, rebel groups, community members, and even staff affiliated with the UN. Although conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) has been sharply escalating since the 2021 reemergence of the Tutsi-led M23 rebel group, the report has found that the number of cases has doubled in the first half of 2024 compared to the same time in 2023. Survivors who seek care have been found to have “lacerations, sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, incontinence, paralysis, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and developmental delays,” as stated by the report. These cases present a dire need for increased international cooperation to put an end to these horrific human rights violations.

For more than 30 years, the DRC has been afflicted by deep-seated conflict among M23 rebels, the Congolese forces, and numerous other armed groups who are vying for power in a land rife with valuable mineral resources. Since 1996, approximately six million people have been killed, and more than six million remain internally displaced, according to Al Jazeera. Along with attacks on villages and communities, CRSV against men, women, and children, some as young as three years old, has been particularly acute, coupled with a weakened health system, food insecurity, and rampant disease. Despite numerous attempts at peace talks and ceasefire resolutions, the M23 rebels have continued to accumulate vast swathes of territory, thus prolonging the conflict. Additional problems derive from the fact that other regional actors in Uganda and Rwanda have been said to have contributed military and logistic support to the rebel groups, which has worked to broaden the conflict.

More recently, peacekeeping forces, including the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) and the East African Community Regional Force (EAC-RF), have withdrawn from the region after Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi called for the accelerated removal of 15,000 peacekeepers due to a “lack of satisfactory results on the ground,” as reported by AP News. However, this withdrawal has raised concerns about the potential for the furtherance of humanitarian crimes and violations of international law.

As a result of these challenges, healthcare providers face difficulties in adequately coping with the crisis, considering they “lack adequate supplies, staffing, training, or compensation to manage the acute influx of survivors,” according to Forbes. This is compounded by the existing stigmas victims of sexual violence face when seeking care, as well as fears of experiencing more violence. Based on the interviews conducted by the PHR, many of these individuals experience sexual violence when searching for food or firewood, highlighting the ever-present vulnerabilities in all aspects of life.

As part of the report, the PHR identified recommendations that could help pave the way for effective methods of protecting civilians. For instance, the interviewed clinicians have emphasized the crucial need for better training and mentorship to improve forensic documentation at health facilities as well as increased access to materials that can support survivors both mentally and physically. These resources can be mobilized by the UN and other members of the international community by allocating funds to the 2024 DRC Humanitarian Response Plan—a plan that would promote more vigorous evidence-gathering techniques and strengthen the supply of necessities, which could reduce potential exposure to harm. Moreover, the International Criminal Court (ICC) can be useful for investigating and prosecuting perpetrators responsible for CRSV to ensure accountability.

Although the conflict in the DRC is far from resolved, we must pay attention to the dire needs of civilians in the region. The Congolese people deserve reparation, support, and sufficient health care that will address both the immediate and long-term impacts of endured trauma. However, these efforts will only be possible if the international community collaborates with local communities to understand how to protect and assist survivors in a way that will guarantee a practical pathway toward recovery.