The number of children subjected to catastrophic and life-changing sexual violence in conflict soared to at least 1,938 cases in 2024, with the verified number of cases the highest since records began and up 50% since 2020, said Save the Children.
The latest United Nations Annual Report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, released today, found rape and other forms of sexual violence against children increased by 35% in 2024, with cases of gang rape rising dramatically. Haiti had the highest number of cases of verified sexual violence against children (566), followed by Nigeria (419), the Democratic Republic of Congo (358) and Somalia (267).
The violations verified in the greatest numbers were the killing and maiming of 11,967 children, with the highest numbers of grave violations verified in the occupied Palestinian territory (8,544), the DRC (4,043), Somalia (2,568), Nigeria (2,436) and Haiti (2,269). These violations – crimes against children in conflict zones - include killing, maiming and abduction, sexual violence, recruitment into armed groups, attacks on schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access to children.
However, the number of actual cases of sexual violence against children is understood to be vastly underreported due to stigmatization, fear of reprisals, harmful social norms, the absence or lack of access to services, impunity, and safety concerns.
Continues at https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/news/media-centre/press-releases/2025/sexual-violence-against-children-conflict-surges-50-5-years