United Nations human rights experts have issued an urgent appeal for stronger child protection measures in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as escalating violence in North Kivu and South Kivu threatens the safety of thousands of children.
In a joint statement released Wednesday, the experts denounced indiscriminate attacks on civilians, massacres, and conflict-related sexual violence, all in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.
Medical reports indicate a surge in sexual violence, with 30% of rape survivors being children as humanitarian agencies have identified over 1,100 unaccompanied and separated children across North and South Kivu.
Attacks on hospitals, aid facilities, and civilian infrastructure have worsened the crisis and schools have been attacked or occupied by armed groups, displacing thousands of students.
As armed offensives intensify, more than 700,000 people—including 41% of school-age children—have been displaced. Experts warn that many cases remain unreported, suggesting that the true scale of the crisis may be much worse.
The recruitment and use of children in armed conflict remains a major concern, exposing them to forced combat, abduction, injuries, and sexual violence.
“We are deeply concerned by reports of missing children, abductions, and trafficking for use in combat by all parties to the conflict,” the experts stated.
The UN experts urge authorities to adopt child-centered protection measures, including: early warning and risk prevention systems for child protection, strict age verification methods to prevent the recruitment of minors, access to military sites for child protection agencies to ensure no children are illegally conscripted and demobilisation and rehabilitation programs for former child soldiers, providing them with psychological and social reintegration support.
“We call on all parties to the conflict—including armed groups and their commanders—to end these atrocities and uphold their legal obligations to protect civilians, especially children,” the experts concluded.
ODL/sf/ac/lb/as/APA