During the Rwandan genocide, the human right of slavery was violated through the mass abduction and enslavement of Tutsi women and girls by Hutu militias. These women were subjected to sexual violence, forced labor, and other forms of exploitation. Many were taken as sex slaves and forced to marry their abductors, while others were sold or exchanged as commodities. The practice of enslavement was used as a tool of war and genocide, with the ultimate goal of destroying the Tutsi community and its cultural identity. The UN estimates that up to 500,000 women and girls were subjected to sexual violence during the genocide, including enslavement. This heinous violation of human rights continues to have lasting impacts on survivors and their communities.
