Ethnic cleansing refers to the deliberate and systematic removal or extermination of a particular ethnic or religious group from a specific area. This often involves violence, intimidation, and forced displacement, aiming to create a region that is ethnically homogeneous. It can occur through various means, including mass killings, forced migration, and the destruction of cultural sites. The term gained prominence during the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, where atrocities were committed against groups such as the Bosniaks and Croats. International law recognizes ethnic cleansing as a serious violation of human rights, often associated with crimes against humanity and genocide.