For more than five months, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has been gripped by ongoing political and security instability, creating a dire humanitarian crisis and a surge in human rights abuses.
Among those most impacted are women and girls—particularly sex workers—who face daily threats of sexual violence, insecurity, and neglect.
UMANDE, a member organization of the African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA), continues to play a critical role amid the turmoil. Operating through 44 sex worker solidarity committees, UMANDE supports a network of 1,608 sex workers. The committees offer mutual aid, mobilize for rights, and act as a front-line defense in monitoring and documenting sexual violence within the sex worker community.
Since January 2025, UMANDE has recorded 687 cases of rape against sex workers—an average of seven reported rapes per day. This alarming figure illustrates the heightened vulnerability sex workers face, particularly in a region already destabilized by armed conflict.
The situation is especially dire for the 829 sex workers who are also heads of household, supporting an average of two children each. Compounding this crisis, 509 members rely on Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, which has now been jeopardized by the sudden withdrawal of international support.
In a devastating blow, the U.S. government recently ended its USAID-funded support for the region’s only ARV treatment center. Shortly after, rebel forces occupied Goma on January 21 and Bukavu on February 16, looting pharmaceutical depots and destroying life-saving medications and supplies, including ARVs.
“This is not just a public health crisis—it’s a human rights emergency,” said a representative from UMANDE. “Sex workers living with HIV are now without access to treatment, while the threat of violence grows daily. We are calling on international allies, humanitarian agencies, and funders to urgently respond.”
As instability deepens, sex workers—already marginalized and criminalized—are being pushed further into uncertainty. UMANDE, in collaboration with ASWA, continues to advocate for immediate action to protect sex workers’ rights, ensure access to essential healthcare, and address the growing epidemic of sexual violence.
