Cases of conflict-related sexual violence more than double in 2025, UN warns

Releasing the UN’s annual report on Friday, Special Representative Pramila Patten said the figures reflected a growing global trend, with the crisis fueled by growing insecurity, population displacement and declining resources for survivors.

“In 2025, documented cases of sexual violence used as a tactic of war, torture, terrorism and political repression, characterized by extreme brutality and overwhelmingly targeting women and girls, have increased dramatically,” she told journalists at UN headquarters in New York.

The report identified 9,788 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in 2025. However, this figure did not reflect the brutal reality, according to Ms Patten.

“The figures in this report should not be seen as a complete picture, but as an indication of a much broader pattern of violations that remain largely invisible and under-reported,” she added.

Civilians targeted

The document documents rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, trafficking and kidnapping committed by both state and non-state actors in 21 conflict-affected countries.

Women and girls remained the main targets, although men and boys were also victims of sexual violence, often in detention and torture. LGBTQI+ people have also been at increased risk of targeted persecution and harassment.

According to the report, the ages of the victims ranged from 1 to 70 years old, including cases involving disabled people.

For Ms. Patten, this violence was frequently accompanied by extreme physical violence, including murder after rape and cases of suicide among survivors.

“At its core, this report deals with the human suffering of all these survivors and these communities living in the shadow of war,” she explained.

Armed groups and access

The document highlights that non-state armed groups, including organized criminal groups, continue to use sexual violence to exercise control over communities and territories, particularly in areas rich in natural resources.

Displaced or refugee women and girls are at increased risk, particularly in remote and border areas where support networks have collapsed.

According to the report’s findings, the widespread availability of small arms also continues to fuel sexual violence in many conflicts.

At the same time, restrictions on humanitarian access, insecurity and a lack of funding made it more difficult to document abuses and help survivors.

Proven perpetrators of violence

The annex to the document lists 77 parties judged responsible for systematic practices of sexual violence linked to the conflict, including 62 non-state actors.

Among the new additions are three non-state armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo: the Wazalendo armed elements, the National Liberation Forces and the Maï-Maï of the Union of Patriots for the Liberation of Congo armed group.

Two state actors – the Russian armed and security forces, as well as the Israeli armed and security forces – were also added to the list, following findings of persistent practices of sexual violence documented by the UN.

These two parties had been “warned” last year “about their potential inclusion on the list during the next reference period”.

Appel à l’action

The report urges the Security Council and member states to strengthen prevention, accountability and support for survivors.

Among the recommendations are:

– guarantee unhindered humanitarian access,

– strengthen monitoring and sanction mechanisms,

– support advisors on the protection of women within UN missions,

– strengthen investigations and legal proceedings,

– and increase funding for medical, psychosocial and legal services.

Ms Patten called for attention to remain focused on survivors. Because

these violations are “neither isolated nor limited to a few contexts”.

“They are global in scope, have devastating consequences and demand a response focused not on political posturing, selective outrage or preconceived narratives, but on the rights, needs and dignity of victims and survivors,” she argued.