ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION Release of women and children who have been taken hostage in armed conflicts and imprisoned 25. At the 11th meeting, on 28 March 1995, the observer for Azerbaijan* introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1995/L.7) entitled "Relief to women and children who have been taken as hostages and imprisoned in armed conflicts, to be provided by the beginning of the Fourth World Conference on Women". Subsequently, Angola, Argentina*, Bangladesh*, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Burkina Faso*, Burundi*, Cambodia*, Cameroon*, Chad*, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt*, El Salvador*, Eritrea*, Gabon*, the Gambia*, Guinea-Bissau, Kyrgyzstan*, Kuwait*, Mali*, Mozambique*, Pakistan, Peru, Sao Tome and Principe*, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey* and Zimbabwe* joined in sponsoring the draft resolution. The text read as follows: "The Commission on the Status of Women, "Taking into consideration the fact that the main objective of the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, to be held in Beijing, China, from 4 to 15 September 1995, is to promote the achievement of equality, development and peace, "Expressing grave concern that the number of armed conflicts has not decreased since the end of the cold war, and that international and ethnic conflicts are an ongoing reality in nearly every region, resulting in violations of human rights, especially those of women and children, including massive loss of life, "Noting with alarm that the humanitarian law prohibiting attacks on civilian populations is systematically ignored, "Confirming that the taking of women and children as hostages, and their imprisonment and subjection to torture and violence are in grave contravention of human morality and all international legal norms, "Expressing its strong belief that the rapid and unconditional release of women and children by parties to conflicts will contribute greatly to achieving the above-mentioned goals of the Beijing Conference, "Noting that the implementation of this initiative would serve as strong confirmation of the effectiveness of the Conference’s goal of action for equality, development and peace, "1. Strongly appeals to all parties concerned to strictly observe and respect the rules of international humanitarian law, as set out in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and the Additional Protocols thereto, of 1977; "2. Appeals to the parties to conflicts to strive for a peaceful, negotiated settlement of their differences; * In accordance with rule 69 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council. -55-