Sexual violence is a form of gender-based
violence. It encompasses acts of a sexual nature
perpetrated against one or more persons or that
cause such person or persons to engage in an
act of a sexual nature by force, or by threat of
force or coercion, such as that caused by fear
of violence, duress, detention, psychological
oppression or abuse of power, against such
person or persons or another person, or by
taking advantage of a coercive environment
or such person’s or persons’ incapacity
to give genuine consent.8 Forms of sexual
violence include rape, attempted rape, sexual
mutilation, forced sterilization, forced abortion,
forced prostitution, trafficking for the purpose
of sexual exploitation, child pornography,
child prostitution, sexual slavery, forced
marriage, forced pregnancy, forced nudity
and forced virginity testing. The term “sexual
and gender-based violence” (SGBV) is used to
emphasize the element of sexual violence while
acknowledging that it is also part of the broader
term “gender-based violence” (GBV, see above).
binary and non-binary self-identifications of
sexual identity.
Sex-disaggregated data are data that are
collected and presented separately on women
and girls, men and boys. Such data contribute
by reflecting a more accurate picture of the
roles, real situations and general conditions of
women and men in every aspect of society, for
instance literacy rates, education levels, business
ownership, employment, wages, dependents,
house and land ownership, loans, credit
and debts. It is also important for data to be
presented on the human rights situation of other
individuals who do not use or feel represented in
binary sex/gender categories.
Sexual orientation refers to a person’s
physical, romantic and/or emotional attraction
towards other people. Everyone has a sexual
orientation. Heterosexual people tend to be
attracted to individuals who are of a different
sex from themselves. Gay men and lesbian
women tend to be attracted to individuals who
are of the same sex as themselves. Bisexual
people may be attracted to individuals who are
of the same or a different sex from themselves.
There are also other terms and concepts related
to sexual orientation not included in this list.7
7
See also United Nations/OHCHR, Living Free and Equal
(2016).
8
9
See International Criminal Court, Elements of Crimes, art. 7
(1) (g)-6.