According to a new report by the United Nations, cases of sexual violence increased by 25 percent compared to the previous year.
The report states that the countries with the highest number of such incidents are the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Somalia, and South Sudan.
It further notes that 63 state and non-state parties have been clearly identified as systematically committing rape and other forms of sexual violence during armed conflicts.
The report also states that this crime is on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council.
Additional details in the report highlight the severity of the situation.
In just the last five months of last year, health workers in Kivu treated more than 17,000 victims of sexual violence.
The report also notes that sexual violence cases increased during periods of intensified fighting between Congolese forces and M23 rebels.