UN Security Council Raises Alarm Over Escalating Violence Against Children in Eastern Congo.

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In the latter part of 2024, the United Nations Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict reviewed the ninth report of the UN Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, covering the period from April 2022 to March 2024. Published as S/2024/705, the report outlines a deeply troubling rise in violence against children, particularly in the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, and Tanganyika. Following the review, the Working Group issued a public statement through its Chair, condemning what it described as an “unprecedented level” of violations against children.

According to the report, this was the deadliest period ever recorded for children in the DRC since the UN monitoring mechanism was established. Killings, maiming, sexual violence, abductions, and the recruitment of children all increased sharply. The Security Council also highlighted how insecurity, restrictions on humanitarian access, and the partial withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO significantly hindered efforts to monitor and respond to abuses on the ground.

Beyond the DRC, global data shows that violations against children in conflict zones reached record levels in 2024, with Congo ranking among the most affected countries.

Children are suffering as a consequence of a conflict that is being fueled by violence perpetrated by armed groups, as well as intercommunal tensions and political instabilities. It has been confirmed that armed groups were perpetrating all the major violations of children's rights. These include the recruitment and use of children as soldiers and in other capacities, rape, forced marriages, abduction, and attacks on civilian infrastructure. These include the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), CODECO, M23, and the various factions of the Mai-Mai. 

Sexual violence committed against children is still one of the most prevalent but inadequately reported offenses. In many cases, the children become subjected to stigma or the fear of retaliation from neighboring perpetrators. UNICEF has reported that many children have been affected by conflict-induced sexual violence in the past few years, especially in the eastern part of the Congo due to displacement and poverty. 

In addition to recruitment, Save the Children reports that violence has displaced over 50,000 children from their homes in 2025 alone, as fighting intensifies and blocks access for humanitarian assistance. 

Environmental shocks further exacerbate the situation. Floods and landslides, linked to extreme weather, have destroyed homes and schools, disrupted access to clean water and healthcare, and exacerbated humanitarian needs. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has noted that these factors, along with ongoing fighting, are pushing entire communities deeper into crisis.

The Security Council Working Group, in its statement, asked all parties to the conflict to immediately stop violations against children and to unconditionally release all children associated with armed forces or groups. It underlined that a mere investigation was needed, and those responsible for abuses should be brought before the courts; otherwise, persistent perpetrators could be UN-sanctioned, including travel bans and the freezing of assets.

The Working Group welcomed the fact that, during this period, no cases of child recruitment by the Congolese Armed Forces or National Police had been reported. It called on the government to reinforce its commitment through the complete implementation of its 2012 Action Plan for ending all six grave violations. It also noted some legislative advances, such as the 2022 laws on reparations for victims of conflict-related sexual violence and the strengthening of child protection frameworks. 

International human rights groups also document broader abuses in the DRC context, including indiscriminate shelling of civilian areas, rising sexual and gender-based violence, and forced displacement affecting millions of people, including children.

In the meantime, the UN showed concern for the stark increase in attacks against humanitarian workers, especially in North and South Kivu. Armed groups have increasingly targeted aid convoys and personnel, which has further restricted access to children in need. 

The UN’s message is clear: the scale of violations against children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo requires urgent and sustained international action. While progress has been made through legislation, accountability efforts, and child reintegration programs, the crisis continues to outpace current responses.

The Working Group stressed that protecting children must remain central to peace efforts, including the implementation of the June 2025 peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda. It warned that failure to act risks condemning another generation to violence and exploitation. For the international community, eastern Congo represents a critical test of its commitment to protecting children in armed conflict.

written by Megi Likmeta