D. R. Congo

Sixteen non-State armed groups and the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) are listed in the annexes of the SG’s 2024 annual report on CAAC for committing grave violations against children. Amid escalating violence in North and South Kivu, the Security Council per SCR 2773 (2025), strongly condemned the M23’s advances with the support of the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), including the capture of Goma and Bukavu, and demanded an immediate ceasefire, withdrawal from occupied areas, and the dismantling of illegitimate parallel administrations. The resolution strongly condemned all attacks directed against the civilian population, as well as continue to commit grave violations against children, with OCHA reporting at least 1,500 cases of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against children in the past 1.5 months. UNICEF reported a five-fold increase in rape cases between January 27 and February 2, 2025, with 30 percent of victims being children. OHCHR confirmed summary executions of children by M23 in Bukavu, and the UN Child Rights Committee reported that 45 street children in Goma were killed by M23 after the group entered the city. The Security Council Should:

• Strongly condemn all continuing violations and abuses committed against children in the DRC, express grave concern at the increase in verified grave violations against children, and demand that all parties uphold their obligations under IHL and IHRL;
• Reiterate its call for an immediate ceasefire, per SCR 2773 (2025), with clearly articulated timeframes, coordination with relevant stakeholders at regional and subregional organizations and humanitarian actors to establish such a ceasefire, as well as to prevent further violations and abuses against civilians, including children;
• Urge all parties to take immediate steps to end and prevent rape and other forms of sexual violence against children and ensure that survivors have access to comprehensive, gender-sensitive, and age-appropriate response and protection, and call on the Government to accelerate efforts to implement its 2012 action plan to end and prevent rape and other forms of sexual violence and the Joint Communiqué signed with the UN to fight sexual violence in conflict;
• Reiterate the need for regional security arrangements, including the Southern African Development Community (SAD) Mission in the DRC (SAMIDRC), to fully comply with IHL and IHRL, and highlight the importance of coordinated technical support on child protection, per SCR 2746 (2024);
• Call on all parties to allow and facilitate the safe, timely, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations, especially children;
• Demand that all parties immediately cease hostilities against peacekeepers, ensure their safety and security, guarantee their freedom of movement, and allow the full and unimpeded implementation of their mandates, including those related to human rights and the protection of civilians.

FRANCE IS THE SECURITY COUNCIL PENHOLDER ON DRC.

This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update – March 2025.

In October, the SG released his ninth report (S/2024/705) on the situation of CAAC in the DRC, covering the period from April 2022 to March 2024. During this period, the CTFMR verified 8,208 grave violations against 6,196 children (4,325 boys, 1,871 girls) by 77 parties, representing an eight percent increase from the previous report. Non-State armed groups were responsible for 98 percent of verified violations, while Government forces were responsible for two percent (187). Recruitment and use (4,006), abduction (2,028), and killing and maiming (1,298) were the most verified violations. While rape and other forms of sexual violence (662) and attacks on schools and hospitals (193) saw a 30 percent decrease, all other grave violations increased, with alarming rises in abduction (31 percent), killing and maiming (40 percent), and denial of humanitarian access (62 percent).  Sexual violence continued to be the violation most attributed to Government forces, primarily the FARDC. The CTFMR also verified the detention of 142 children for alleged association with armed groups, as well as 55 incidents of the military use of schools​. The reporting period was marked by a deteriorating security and humanitarian situation, increased fighting between the FARDC and the resurgent M23 in North Kivu, as well as the beginning of MONUSCO’s gradual withdrawal. The Working Group should:

• Strongly condemn all continuing violations and abuses committed against children in the DRC, express grave concern at the increase in verified grave violations against children, and demand that all parties uphold their obligations under IHL and IHRL;
• Welcome the Government’s continued efforts to consolidate the gains of the 2012 action plan, call for the swift and full operationalization of the national strategy for implementation of the Demobilization, Disarmament, Community Recovery, and Stabilization Program (P-DDRCS), integrating gender-specific considerations to address the needs of girls associated with armed groups and armed forces;
• Call on Member States and donors to support and ensure predictable funding for child protection efforts in light of the phased withdrawal of MONUSCO;
• Urge all armed groups to immediately release all children under 18 from their ranks and end and prevent all child recruitment and use; reiterate that children associated with armed forces and groups should be treated primarily as victims and call on the Government to ensure children formerly associated with armed groups are handed over to civilian child protection actors in compliance with its 2013 directives and the Paris Principles;
• Call on all parties to take immediate and specific steps to end and prevent rape and other forms of sexual violence against children, including by ensuring perpetrators are held accountable and that survivors have access to comprehensive, gender-sensitive, and age-appropriate response and protection, and call on the Government to accelerate efforts to implement aspects of its 2012 action plan relating to sexual violence and the Joint Communiqué signed with the UN to fight sexual violence in conflict;
• Call on all parties to immediately cease attacks and threats of attack on educational and health facilities and personnel, as well as to refrain from the military use of schools, and encourage the Government to follow up on implementation of its 2017 Safe Schools Declaration roadmap.

This information is based on Watchlist’s Children and Armed Conflict Monthly Update – December 2024.

Year listed: 2003
Action Plans signed: FARDC (the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo) – recruitment and use of children and sexual violence against children (October 2012) *Delisted in 2017 following compliance with Action Plan to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children. Action Plan on ending and preventing sexual violence against children under implementation. 
Sanctions Committee: Sanctions Committee concerning Democratic Republic of Congo (Current Chair: Niger)
Secretary-General’s reports on CAAC in DRC: 2022; 2020; 2018; 2014; 2010; 2008; 2007; 2006
Security Council Working Group conclusions on DRC: 2020; 2018; 2014; 2011; 2009; 2007; 2006
UN Mission: MONUSCO