objective to promote full participation of women in power structures and the objective to eliminate violence against women. Violence directed against women in international armed and other kinds of conflict is a war crime and a violation of international human rights law. Action should include redirecting possible savings from defense budgets to development, including through the promotion of disarmament programmes. Bring more women into the peace process 84. More women at all levels should become involved in peace and conflict resolution. Countries and the United Nations should aim at a target of gender parity in peace negotiation and conflict resolution and take steps to provide women and men with training in this area. Measures should be taken to bring women into peace-keeping, in both civilian and military roles. Measures should be taken to reinforce women's roles as peace educators, both in the family and in society. Support women affected by armed conflict and foreign occupation 85. Grave violations of the human rights of women in specific armed conflict, including acts of terrorism and foreign occupation, especially in the form of genocide and "ethnic cleansing", which include in particular murder, systematic rape, sexual slavery and forced pregnancy, creating a mass exodus of refugees and displaced persons, should be considered violations of the fundamental principles of international human rights and humanitarian law and swiftly condemned and punished. Countries and all parties to armed conflicts should strictly observe international humanitarian law, as set forth in the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and other principles of international law, as well as the minimum standards for the protection of human rights as laid down in international conventions. Efforts should be made to identify these situations rapidly, publicize them and immediately arrange impartial investigations leading to the prosecution of perpetrators. The Special Rapporteur and other human rights mechanisms should be used for this purpose. Awareness campaigns regarding violence against women in armed conflict and under foreign occupation should be launched and assistance provided to the victims of these violations. International measures to address armed conflict and foreign occupation, such as economic sanctions, should be designed to limit their impact on women and children. During rehabilitation and reconstruction following conflicts, the role of women should be recognized and planning should include a gender dimension. Programmes to assist women who have become disabled or must care for disabled persons should be developed. Guarantee assistance to refugee and displaced women 86. Special attention should be given to refugee and displaced women in accordance with the guidelines and conclusions established by the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Governments should ensure equal rights and access of women and men to refugee determination procedures and the grant of asylum. Governments should consider gender factors in recognizing as refugees women whose claim to refugee status is based on a well-founded fear of persecution, through violence, for reasons enumerated in the 1951 Geneva Convention and the related 1967 Protocol. Special training should be given to law enforcement officers and members of military forces to prevent violence against refugee and displaced women and to promote respect of their rights. -46-