The world cannot look away from rising sexual violence in DR Congo

The latest warnings from the United Nations about rising sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) should shock us all. Instead, there is a danger that the men, women and children caught up in this brutality will become just another set of devastating statistics from a conflict the world is looking away from.

But behind every statistic, behind every faceless story, is a human being whose life has been changed forever.

UN human rights experts have condemned the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group's "reign of terror" and are calling for an end to sexual torture as horrifying stories from impacted civilians continue to grow. Rapes, gang rapes, violent assaults, and killings are now a common feature of the group's operations. The UN report found that cases of sexual violence perpetrated by the M23, which controls tracts of Eastern DRC and frequently clashes with the Congolese military, have more than doubled between 2024 and 2025.

And we know the real number will likely be far higher than this. When war is ravaging in your country, the barriers to reporting sexual violence only increase. When the perpetrators of the most serious crimes appear to act with impunity, it becomes almost impossible for survivors to feel safe enough to seek justice.

Sexual violence as a weapon

Sexual violence in war is not an inevitable consequence of conflict. It is a deliberate weapon used to punish and humiliate people, families and entire communities. More and more, we are seeing it used as a brutal tactic of war, torture and terrorism in conflicts right across the globe.

For over two decades, the DRC has become a very dangerous place, especially for women and girls. But the violence is indiscriminate: it affects people of different genders, ages and backgrounds.

For survivors, the consequences can last a lifetime. There are physical injuries and psychological trauma. Women may face unwanted pregnancies and rejection by their own families and communities. Men and boys face their own devastating consequences, often compounded by shame and stigma and barriers to healthcare and justice.

Yet we still have much to learn about how we respond to conflict-related sexual violence. Too often, the international community talks about survivors without actually listening to what we need.

From my own personal experience and speaking with many survivors around the world, I know that we are, sadly, experts by experience. When we are listened to, what we have lived through can help governments to truly understand what works, what does not, and what survivors need to rebuild their lives.

Shaping real change

The UK Government's flagship Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative raises awareness of the scourge of sexual violence in armed conflict and rallies global action to end it. Part of my work in this project, as part of the Survivor Advisory Group, is to create space for survivors to participate meaningfully. Not simply by telling our stories but by helping shape the policies and practices that are developed in response.

But this must also mean a consistent international response to sexual violence. Demands that human rights are respected cannot depend on geography. The value of a survivor's life cannot be contingent on whether their suffering happens in a country that is politically important to us, or whether the government concerned is an ally or enemy.

The universality of human rights must be upheld, no matter the context. All perpetrators of sexual torture must be condemned and held to account, regardless of who or where they are, or what their political allegiances are.

And the UK has an important role to play. The recent appointment of a new Special Envoy on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict is welcome. At a time when wars around the world are multiplying, and civilians are paying the ultimate price, it has never been more important that the UK prioritises stopping conflict-related sexual violence through sustained leadership and committed resources.

The UK should lead by example in putting survivors at the heart of its work. This means listening to survivors before decisions are made on shaping policy and programmes. Our lived experience should not simply be seen as evidence of the problem but as essential expertise in understanding how to meaningfully address it.

There is another reason why this matters so deeply to me. The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has recognised that sexual violence committed by warring parties in conflict is almost always torture. These crimes are fundamentally prohibited under the international ban on torture – a prohibition that must remain absolute.

I know that the physical and emotional scars do not simply disappear once the violence stops. Survivors need safety and security. They need medical and psychological care, the opportunity to recover and rebuild their lives. They need access to justice. Above all, they need to know what happened to them matters and that the world has not forgotten them.

The people of the DRC have suffered through decades of conflict. They have waited long enough. These latest UN findings should not simply make us angry. They should make us act.

The UK must use its influence to demand an end to the violence and accountability for perpetrators. It must live up to its commitments to support survivors and prevent conflict-related sexual violence as a priority for its foreign policy.

My home country is suffering. Survivors are suffering. Their lives must not be reduced to statistics in another UN report or forgotten when the next crisis dominates the headlines. 

Human rights are not conditional on geography or political convenience. The gravest crimes always deserve the gravest condemnation. And if we are serious about standing with survivors, we must stand with all of them - no matter who they are or where they come from.

Dine Kobo (name changed to protect identity) is a member of Survivors Speak Out, a national network of people who have survived torture and use their voices to raise awareness about the impact of torture and advocate for policy change. She is also a member of the PSVI Survivor Advisory Group (SAG), established by the UK government to ensure that survivors of conflict related sexual violence (CRSV) play a central role in driving policy, shaping design and implementing international strategies under the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI).

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Opinions expressed in this article remain those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The New Arab, its editorial board or staff.