A/RES/62/134
and its other relevant resolutions, as well as Security Council resolutions
1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, 1612 (2005) of
26 July 2005 on children affected by armed conflict and 1674 (2006) of 28 April
2006 on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the resolutions of the
Economic and Social Council on women and on the girl child, Commission on
Human Rights resolution 2005/41 of 19 April 2005 on the elimination of violence
against women 8 and resolution 2001/20 of 16 August 2001 of the Subcommission on
the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights on systematic rape, sexual slavery
and slavery-like practices, 9
7F
8F
Recalling also the inclusion of rape and other forms of gender-related crimes
and crimes of sexual violence in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal
Court, 10
9F
Recalling further the recognition by the ad hoc international criminal tribunals
that rape can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or a constitutive act
with respect to genocide,
Welcoming the United Nations inter-agency initiative “Stop Rape Now: United
Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict”,
Recognizing that violence against women is an offence against the dignity and
integrity of the victim, which often inflicts serious physical and psychological harm,
and that all forms of violence against women seriously violate and impair or nullify
the enjoyment by women of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and
constitute a major impediment to the ability of women to make use of their
capabilities,
Recognizing also that violence against women is rooted in historically unequal
power relations between men and women,
Recognizing further that violence against women impedes the social and
economic development of communities and States, as well as the achievement of the
internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development
Goals,
Expressing concern that civilians, particularly women and children, account
for the vast majority of those adversely affected by armed conflict, including as
refugees and internally displaced persons, and increasingly are targeted by
combatants and armed elements, and recognizing the consequent impact this has on
durable peace and reconciliation,
Recognizing that States bear primary responsibility to respect and ensure the
human rights of their citizens, as well as all individuals within their territory as
provided for by relevant international law,
Stressing that States have the obligation to promote and protect all human
rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls, and must exercise due
diligence to prevent, investigate and punish the perpetrators of violence against
women and girls, and to provide protection to the victims, and that failure to do so
violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental
freedoms of the victims,
_______________
8
See Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 2005, Supplement No. 3 and corrigenda
(E/2005/23 and Corr.1 and 2), chap. II, sect. A.
9
See E/CN.4/2002/2-E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/40, chap. II, sect. A.
10
United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2187, No. 38544.
2