Strongly condemns the rape and abuse of women and children in areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia, which constitutes a war crime; expresses outrage that systematic rape is being used as a weapon of war and an instrument of "ethnic cleansing" in particular against Muslim women and children in Bosnia and Herzegovina; demands that those involved immediately cease those outrageous acts, which are in gross violation of international humanitarian law; urges all Member States to take action, in cooperation with UN, to bring about an end to that despicable practice; reaffirms that all persons who perpetrate or authorize crimes against humanity and other violations of international humanitarian law are individually responsible and that those in authority who fail to ensure that persons under their control comply with relevant international instruments are accountable together with the perpetrators; urges Member States to exert every effort to bring to justice, in accordance with due process, all individuals involved in those outrageous international crimes; urges all States and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, including UNICEF, UNHCR and WHO to provide to victims of rape and abuse appropriate assistance for their physical and mental rehabilitation; invites the Commission on Human Rights to request the Special Rapporteur to continue investigation into the rape and abuse of women and children in the former Yugoslavia, and encourages the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991 to give due priority to these cases; requests the Secretary-General to provide such means as are available to him in the area to enable future missions to have free and secure access to places of detention.

Adopted without vote, 85th meeting

4 p.

Adopted at the 85th plenary meeting, 20 Dec. 1993.