Wartime sexual violence is rape or other forms of sexual violence committed by combatants during an armed conflict war or military occupation often as spoils of war but sometimes particularly in ethnic conflict the phenomenon has broader sociological motives. Wartime sexual violence may also include gang rape and rape with objects. It is distinguished from sexual harassment sexual assaults and rape committed amongst troops in military service. During war and armed conflict rape is frequently used as a means of psychological warfare in order to humiliate and terrorize the enemy. Wartime sexual violence may occur in a variety of situations including institutionalized sexual slavery wartime sexual violence associated with specific battles or massacres as well as individual or isolated acts of sexual violence.