Sexual violence
Forms and contexts of sexual violence
A wide range of sexually violent acts can take place in different circumstances and settings. These include, for example:
- Rape by strangers;
- rape within marriage or dating relationships;
- systematic "war rape" during armed conflict;
- unwanted sexual advances or sexual harassment, including demanding sex in return for favors;
- sexual abuse of mentally or physically disabled people;
- sexual abuse of children;
- forced marriage or cohabitation, including the marriage of children;
- denial of the right to use contraception or to adopt other measures to protect against sexually transmitted diseases;
- forced abortion;
- violent acts against sexual integrity, including genital mulitation and obligatory inspections for virginity;
- forced prostitution and trafficking of people for the purpose of sexual exploitation.