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 soldiers and associated stereotypes about male sexuality are thought to encourage this practice. Countries that have experienced particularly significant problems with prostitution due to their proximity to combat zones include Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Philippines, Thailand, South Korea, and Vietnam. The worldwide prevalence of this phenomenon has led to increased expressions of concern on behalf of the international community.

It is difficult in combat zones to distinguish between prostitution and survival sex, which involves the exchange of sexual favors for basic items necessary for human existence, such as food or shelter. The majority of contemporary refugees are girls and women, all of whom are vulnerable to gender-based violence due to the feminization of poverty and conflict-associated chaos. It has been argued that sexual relations between soldiers and war-affected women and girls cannot be considered consensual because of inherent inequalities of status, power, and authority. Serious accusations have emerged in recent decades regarding the alleged involvement of United Nations peacekeepers and other armed forces in patronizing prostitutes who may have been held against their will. This is especially true in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many governments have adopted “zero tolerance” policies toward this behavior as a result, but reports have suggested that conflict may create a permissive environment in which soldiers sometimes operate with impunity. Part of this stems from widely held assumptions linking masculinity to aggressive sexuality, a social construct that may pressure soldiers to patronize prostitutes to demonstrate their “masculinity.”

Prostitution in combat zones has had an enduring impact on many countries. An estimated 200,000 eastern Asian females, known as “comfort women,” were held against their will by Japanese forces in World War II. Victims and their advocates continue to pressure the Japanese government for official acknowledgement of military wrongdoing, without success. Approximately 50,000 children, known as AmerAsians, were fathered by American soldiers stationed in southeastern Asia. Although not all of their mothers were prostitutes, such children faced stigma in their home countries due to the political significance of U.S. soldiers’ involvement with local women. It has been suggested that the legacy of prostitution in former southeastern Asian combat zones can be [Page 1180]seen in the region's popularity as a destination for sex tourists, who plan their visits with the sole intention of visiting prostitutes.

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