E/2014/27 E/CN.6/2014/15 Expressing its strong belief that the rapid and unconditional release of women and children taken hostage in areas of armed conflict will promote the implementation of the noble goals enshrined in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly and the outcome document of the special session of the General Assembly on children, entitled “A world fit for children”, including the provisions therein regarding violence against women and children, 1. Reaffirms that hostage-taking, wherever and by whomever committed, is an illegal act aimed at the destruction of human rights and is, under any circumstances, unjustifiable; 2. Condemns all violent acts committed against the civilian population as such, in violation of international humanitarian law in situations of armed conflict, and calls for an effective response to such acts, in particular the immediate release of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts, including by strengthening international cooperation in this field; 3. Also condemns the consequences of hostage-taking, in particular torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, murder, rape, slavery and trafficking in women and children, and deplores their consequences; 4. Urges States that are parties to an armed conflict to take all necessary measures, in a timely manner, to determine the identity, fate and whereabouts of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts, and, to the greatest possible extent, to provide their family members, through appropriate channels, with all relevant information they have on their fate and whereabouts; 5. Invites, in this regard, States to adopt a comprehensive approach, including all appropriate legal and practical measures and coordination mechanisms; 6. Recognizes the need for the collection, protection and management of information on women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts, according to international and national legal norms and standards, and urges States to cooperate with each other and with other appropriate actors working in this area, inter alia, by providing all relevant and appropriate information; Strongly urges all parties to armed conflicts to respect fully the 7. norms of international humanitarian law and to take all necessary measures for the protection of the civilian population as such, including measures to prevent and combat acts of hostage-taking; 8. Urges all parties to armed conflicts to provide safe, unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance for those women and children, in accordance with international humanitarian law; 9. Also urges all parties to an armed conflict to cooperate fully with the International Committee of the Red Cross in establishing the fate and 14-02869 33/95