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In the last two weeks of February, humanitarian agencies reported 895 cases of conflict-related rape as M23 rebels advanced through the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to a , this was an average of more than 60 rapes a day.

UNICEF officials reported similarly grim figures. Between Jan. 27 and Feb. 2, 2025, the number of rape cases treated across 42 health facilities in DRC jumped five-fold, .

While immediate responses are needed to stop the violence, provide health care to the survivors and assist the displaced, the pursuit of justice also plays a critical role.

Investigative bodies, including the International Criminal Court (ICC), are increasingly using technology to investigate conflict-related sexual violence. In a recent research project, my team interviewed experts who specialize in conflict-related sexual violence investigations around the world. The research was supported by funded by the United Kingdom's Department for International Development.

Investigating sexual violence

The ICC's chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, and met with sexual violence survivors. The ICC has the mandate to investigate rape, sexual slavery and other gender-based violence amounting to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The office had .

Investigators start by speaking to survivors, following guidelines such as the 2023 or the . The Global Code of Conduct is known as the Murad Code after .

In our research, we found that survivors of conflict-related sexual violence are connecting with investigators through various technologies, such as directly using encrypted apps like Signal. Survivors also go through civil society organizations equipped to take video or electronic statements—, which works with Yazidi survivors of ISIS crimes in northern Iraq—or via portals like the . The UN's also encourage and receive email submissions.

International courts and investigative bodies are also analyzing open-source information on conflict-related sexual violence, such as videos, photos and statements posted on online platforms. Guided by the , this information can be useful to support witness statements, place alleged perpetrators at the scene of the violations and link incidents into a pattern of similar violence.

For example, the described how to sustain its sabaya (sexual slavery) system.

In Ukraine, our study found that the main technology-related concern in open-source data gathering is identifying AI-created and other artificially generated images, specifically designed and planted in the public domain as a form of disinformation or to compromise investigations.

Face and voice recognition

Conflict-related sexual violence is often perpetrated indoors which makes certain technologies like satellite or drone imagery less useful. However, other forms of technology have proven to be beneficial in Ukraine's investigations. In particular, face and voice recognition software have supported efforts to identify alleged perpetrators.

While Ukraine's experience points to some successes, investigations into sexual violence committed by ISIS in northern Iraq have been hampered. This is partly due to the lack of automated translation software in the Yazidi language to facilitate the transcription and translation of testimonies.

This speaks to the importance of developing software to translate minority languages spoken in armed conflict zones.

Survivor concerns

Survivors have expressed concerns about the turn to the digital. They fear that their identities and experiences may be revealed through hacking or poor data handling, which could put them at risk of reprisals from perpetrators or their accomplices. It could also lead to stigmatization and ostracization in some communities, undoing survivors' efforts to rebuild their lives.

To address these concerns, international courts and investigative bodies have adopted . However, the lack of a standardized framework for the use of technology in the investigation of conflict-related sexual violence remains a significant concern for the investigators we interviewed.

Such a framework would incorporate best practices in supporting survivors providing evidence, tracking and preserving open-source information and developing new technological applications.

If there is to be justice for survivors of conflict-related rape in DRC and elsewhere, technology—provided it is used with great sensitivity—will likely be an important and timely aid.

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .