Legal Definitions - sexual slavery

Definition: Sexual slavery is the act of enslaving people for sexual purposes. It is a crime against humanity when it is part of a systematic attack on a group of people. It is also a war crime when it is associated with an armed conflict.

During World War II, the Japanese military forced women from Korea, China, and other countries into sexual slavery. These women were called "comfort women" and were forced to provide sexual services to Japanese soldiers.

In recent years, there have been reports of sexual slavery in conflict zones such as Syria and Iraq. Women and girls have been kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery by groups such as ISIS.

These examples illustrate how sexual slavery is used as a tool of war and oppression. It is a violation of human rights and a form of violence that disproportionately affects women and girls.