Resolution 39/4. Rape and abuse of women in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia* The Commission on the Status of Women, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 7/ the International Covenants on Human Rights, 15/ the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 16/ the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 17/ the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 9/ the Convention on the Rights of the Child 18/ and other instruments of human rights and international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 19/ and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977, 20/ Recalling General Assembly resolution 3074 (XXVIII) of 3 December 1973, entitled "Principles of international cooperation in the detection, arrest, extradition and punishment of persons guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity", Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 1994/77 of 9 March 1993, 21/ entitled "Rape and abuse of women and children in the territory of the former Yugoslavia", and General Assembly resolution 48/143 of 20 December 1993, entitled "Rape and abuse of women in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia", Appalled at the continuing and substantiated reports of widespread rape and abuse of women and children in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia, in particular its use against the Muslim women and children in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other non-Serbs by Serbian forces, Reaffirming the relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular resolution 798 (1992) of 18 December 1992, in which, inter alia, the Council strongly condemned those acts of unspeakable brutality, Welcoming the reports and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the former Yugoslavia, * For the discussion, see chap. IV. 15/ General Assembly resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 16/ General Assembly resolution 260 A (III). 17/ General Assembly resolution 39/36, annex. 18/ General Assembly resolution 44/25, annex. 19/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. 20/ Ibid., vol. 1125, Nos. 17512 and 17513. 21/ See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1994, Supplement No. 4 (E/1994/24), chap. II, sect. A. -15-