A broad concept that includes a range of acts (and settings including but not limited to work and home) in which women and girls can be sexually violated. Examples include all forms of sexual harassment, forced actual or attempted sexual intercourse, unwanted sexual contact, making a person engaged in a sexual act without consent, unwanted sexual comments, sexual molestation and abuse of children, genital mutilation, forced sexual initiation, forced prostitution, trafficking with sexual purposes, among others

Form of sexual exploitation of individuals through the use or threat of force, often occurring in times of armed conflict or belligerent occupation.

Sexual rights embrace human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international human rights documents and other consensus documents. These include the right of all persons, free of coercion, discrimination and violence, to: the highest attainable standard of health in relation to sexuality, including access to sexual and reproductive health care services; seek, receive and impart information in relation to sexuality; sexuality education; respect for bodily integrity; choice of partner; decide to be sexually active or not; consensual sexual relations; consensual marriage; decide whether or not, and when to have children; and pursue a satisfying, safe and pleasurable sexual life.

Sexual orientation refers to each person’s capacity for profound emotional, affectional and sexual attraction to, and intimate and sexual relations with, individuals of a different sex or the same sex or more than one sex. Basically there are three predominant sexual orientations: towards the same sex (homosexuality), towards the opposite sex (heterosexuality) or towards both sexes (bisexuality).

How one thinks of oneself in terms of attraction to the same sex or members of the other sex, based on one’s own experiences, thoughts and reactions, rather than defining oneself based on the gender or sex of one’s sexual partner(s).

Sexual health is a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled.

Verbal or physical act with a sexual nature, performed in recruitment or in the workplace by a boss, manager, employee, client or customer of a working unit, that is unwelcomed by the person receiving it and has caused the person to feel violated, insulted, and being in an unbearable hostile environment.

Unwelcome sexually determined behaviour, both physical and non-physical, whether by words or actions. Such conduct can be humiliating and may constitute a health and safety problems. In case sexual harassment takes place in the work environment it is discriminatory when a person has reasonable grounds to believe that objection to such behaviour would create disadvantage in connection with employment, including recruitment or promotion, or when it creates a hostile working environment.

The act of engaging in sexual intercourse or performing other sex acts in exchange for money or other considerations (e.g., food, clothing shelter, affection, etc.) (Estes and Weiner, 2001). “Forced Prostitution” is an expression used in the case of controlling and forcing a person to engage in a sexual activity.

Any sexual act committed against a non-consenting woman, even if she does not show signs of resistance, with the exception of rape.