Lagos, Nigeria: The United Nations recorded 9,788 verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence across 21 countries in 2025.
Okay News reports that Pramila Patten, the United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, released the annual report at the UN Headquarters on Friday.
Patten said: “In 2025 documented cases of sexual violence as a tactic of war, torture, terrorism and political repression marked by extreme brutality and overwhelmingly targeting women and girls increased dramatically.”
The data includes incidents of rape, gang rape, sexual slavery, forced marriage, trafficking, and abductions committed by state and non-state actors. The report identifies women and girls as the primary targets while documenting abuses against men, boys, and LGBTQI+ persons in detention settings. Victims range from children aged one to adults aged 70, including individuals with disabilities.
Patten said: “The figures contained in this report should be understood not as the full picture, but as an indication of a much broader pattern of violations that remain largely unseen and underreported.”
The United Nations directed recommendations to the Security Council and Member States, requesting expanded monitoring mechanisms, unhindered humanitarian access, and increased funding for medical, psychosocial, and legal services.
