Sexual slavery - History

Sexual slavery

Sexual slavery and sexual exploitation is an attachment of any ownership right over one or more people with the intent of coercing or otherwise forcing them to engage in sexual activities. This includes forced labor that results in sexual activity, forced marriage and sex trafficking.

The historical tapestry of human societies reveals the multifaceted nature of slavery, extending beyond conventional boundaries. Sexual slavery manifests in various forms, encompassing single-owner sexual bondage, ritual slavery linked to certain religious practices, such as ritual servitude in some civilizations that inhabit regions in Ghana, Togo, and Benin, and the coercion into forced prostitution, exemplified by criminal organizations like Zwi Migdal. Moreover, slavery's reach extends beyond explicit sexual exploitation. Instances of non-consensual sexual activity are interwoven with systems designed for primarily non-sexual purposes, as witnessed in the colonization of the Americas. This epoch, characterized by encounters between European explorers and Indigenous peoples, saw Forced labour for economic gains, yet it was marred by the widespread prevalence of non-consensual sexual activities.

In unraveling the intricate layers of this historical narrative, Gilberto Freyre's seminal work 'Casa-Grande e Senzala' casts a discerning light on the complex social dynamics that emerged from the amalgamation of European, Indigenous, and African cultures in the Brazilian context.

In some cultures, Concubinage has been a traditional form of sexual slavery, in which women spent their lives in sexual servitude, notably Concubinage in Islam. In some cultures, enslaved concubines and their children had distinct rights and legitimate social positions.

The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action calls for an international effort to make people aware of sexual slavery and that sexual slavery is an abuse of human rights.