Forced prostitution, also known as
involuntary prostitution, is
prostitution or
sexual slavery that takes place as a result of
coercion by a third party. The terms "forced prostitution" or "enforced prostitution" appear in international and humanitarian conventions but have been insufficiently understood and inconsistently applied. "Forced prostitution" refers to conditions of control over a person who is coerced by another to engage in sexual activity. In its understanding of the distinction between
sex work and forced prostitution, the
Open Society Foundations organization states: "sex work is done by consenting adults, where the act of selling or buying sexual services is not a violation of human rights."