A/RES/51/115 Page 3 participation in the proceedings of the International Tribunal and ensuring that further traumatization will be prevented, Deeply alarmed at the situation facing victims of rape in armed conflicts in different parts of the world and any use of rape as a weapon of war, in particular in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Noting with appreciation the efforts of Governments and the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the World Health Organization, humanitarian organizations and non-governmental organizations aimed at supporting the victims of rape and abuse and alleviating their suffering, Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 25 October 1996,12 submitted pursuant to resolution 50/192, 1. Strongly condemns the abhorrent practice of rape and abuse of women and children in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia, which constitutes a war crime; 2. Expresses its outrage that the deliberate and systematic practice of rape has been used as a weapon of war and an instrument of ethnic cleansing against women and children in Bosnia and Herzegovina; 3. Reaffirms that rape in the conduct of armed conflict constitutes a war crime and that under certain circumstances it constitutes a crime against humanity and an act of genocide as defined in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and calls upon States to take all measures required for the protection of women and children from such acts and to strengthen mechanisms to investigate and punish all those responsible and bring the perpetrators to justice; 4. Also reaffirms that all persons who perpetrate or authorize crimes against humanity or other violations of international humanitarian law are individually responsible for those violations and that those in positions of authority who have failed to ensure that persons under their control comply with the relevant international instruments are accountable, together with the perpetrators; 5. Reminds all States of their obligation to cooperate with 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 in the investigation and prosecution of persons accused of using rape as a weapon of war; 6. Calls upon States to put experts, including experts in the prosecution of crimes of sexual violence, as well as adequate resources and services, at the disposal of the International Tribunal; 7. Urges all States and relevant organizations to continue to give serious consideration to the recommendations in the reports of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights 12 A/51/557. /...