The call
came as the Commission on the Status of Women wrapped up its annual session with
the adoption of a resolution that also condemned the consequences of
hostage-taking, particularly torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment, murder, rape, slavery, and trafficking in women and
children.
The resolution strongly urged all warring parties to respect international
humanitarian law and to protect civilians and to provide safe, unimpeded access
to humanitarian assistance for those women and children. It stressed both the
need to end impunity and the responsibility of all States to prosecute those
responsible for war crimes, including hostage-taking.
While that resolution was adopted by consensus, the Commission voted on a
measure demanding that Israel comply fully with the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights and the Geneva Convention in order to protect the rights of
Palestinian women and their families.
That text also called on Israel to facilitate the return of all refugees and
displaced Palestinian women and children to their homes and properties.
Forty-one countries voted in favour of the resolution, which was opposed by
Canada and the United States, while Nicaragua abstained.
Acting by consensus, the Commission adopted a resolution on the AIDS
pandemic, urging governments to strengthen initiatives that would increase the
capacities of women and adolescent girls to protect themselves from the risk of
HIV infection, principally through the provision of health services.
By other resolutions adopted by consensus, the Commission called for
reporting on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and for further
study of the advisability of designating a UN expert, known as a special
rapporteur, to examine laws that discriminate against women.
The 45-member Commission, a subsidiary of the UN Economic and Social Council,
meets annually for two weeks with a mandate to promote women’s rights in the
political, economic, civil, social and educational fields. The Commission also
makes recommendations to the Council on urgent problems facing women that
require immediate
attention.
13 March 2006 –
Condemning all violence committed against civilians during war, a United
Nations commission has called for the immediate release of women and children
taken hostage during armed conflict.