Prostitution in Combat Zones

Prostitution in combat zones is defined as the exchange of sexual intercourse or sexualized attention for money or something of value in an area experiencing war or active conflict. Strong evidence from many combat zones suggests a direct correlation between the presence of military troops and a dramatic rise in prostitution.

This has been particularly marked in the 20th and 21st centuries, which have featured historically unprecedented levels of violence against civilian non-combatants. The nature of contemporary military engagement in combat zones directly impacts neighboring countries, which may or may not be embroiled in the conflict, and sometimes functions to increase the number of women forced or compelled to engage in prostitution for economic or other constraining circumstances. The presence of large numbers of unaccompanied male ...