Conflict-displaced women facing growing risk of sexual violence in eastern DRC

August 13, 2026

The ongoing armed conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which began in 2012 with the M23 rebel movement, has created a dire humanitarian crisis where displaced women face heightened vulnerability to sexual violence. Women seeking domestic work to support their families in displacement camps are frequently targeted and raped by both armed groups and civilians who exploit their desperate economic situation. Fear of retaliation and the urgent need for income prevent most victims from reporting these crimes, despite DRC laws mandating 5-20 years imprisonment for rape.

Who is affected

Displaced women and girls in eastern DRC, particularly those in refugee camps like Don Bosco camp in Ngangi and Kashaka Shabindu camp in northern Goma
Charline, a young woman in her twenties who was raped while seeking domestic work
Mothers with children living in displacement camps who must search for work daily
Approximately 70 percent of women from the Kashaka Shabindu refugee camp who face risk of various forms of violence
Sexual violence survivors experiencing unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and sexually transmitted infections

What action is being taken

Eugénie Wimana and camp leaders are conducting awareness-raising campaigns among women and young girls to combat sexual violence
Humanitarian organizations are providing support for displaced persons to start small-scale income-generating activities
HEAL Africa Hospital staff, including Clinical Psychologist Semu Sikulimwenge, are providing psychosocial support to victims
Women Power NGO is implementing an "Emergency Response to Gender-Based Violence and Sexual and Reproductive Health" project, raising awareness about human dignity and advocating for legal punishment of perpetrators
Women Power is providing psychological and medical care to victims
Some displaced women are establishing small businesses, such as buying and reselling food products near camps

Why it matters

This issue matters because displaced women in eastern DRC face a dual crisis of war-induced displacement and systematic sexual exploitation that traps them in cycles of poverty and trauma. The widespread sexual violence reinforces power imbalances and destroys victims' socioeconomic lives, while their desperate need for income to feed families prevents them from reporting crimes, allowing perpetrators to act with impunity. Without economic independence and safe reporting mechanisms, these vulnerable women remain easy targets for predators who exploit their circumstances. The situation demonstrates how conflict-related displacement creates conditions where fundamental human rights protections collapse, and addressing this requires both immediate survivor support and systemic changes to accountability and economic opportunity.

What's next

Women Power is calling on the DRC government to provide support for female victims of sexual violence. Attorney Patrick Musambali stresses that perpetrators must be held accountable under Article 170 of the Congolese Penal Code. Advocates emphasize that officials must foster an environment where survivors can speak out and report their abusers to prevent perpetrators from continuing to commit these crimes.

Read full article from source: Global Voices