Conflict and insecurity in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) increased in 2024, with renewed fighting by the March 23 Movement (M23), alongside other armed groups. The ongoing conflict has resulted in widespread forced displacement that has included alarming levels of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and serious gendered repercussions, with implications for cross-border and domestic security.
This paper examines internally displaced women’s experiences of SGBV; the links between SGBV and displacement; and the role of international actors in perpetrating and responding to these abuses. The research aimed to better understand links between SGBV and forced displacement in the current security crisis in the DRC.