and trafficking needed to be organized by trained personnel. Mechanisms at the national and international levels to prosecute and punish the perpetrators were also urgently needed, whether their offences were committed in their own or in a foreign country. E. Women and armed conflict: Moderator’s summary 51. On 4 March 1998, at the 6th meeting, the Commission held a panel discussion on women and armed conflict, followed by a dialogue. The panellists were: Helga Hernes (Norway), Special Adviser on Peacekeeping and Preventive Diplomacy, Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Rafiga Azimova (Azerbaijan), Head, Research Centre of the Council of Women; Bernard Muna (Cameroon), International Criminal Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Genocide and Other Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of Rwanda and Rwandan Citizens Responsible for Genocide and Other Such Violations Committed in the Territory of Neighbouring States, between 1 January and 31 December 1994; and Hina Jilani (Pakistan), advocate, Supreme Court of Pakistan. 52. Representatives noted that the Beijing Platform for Action emphasized that peace was inextricably linked to equality between women and men, but that aggression, foreign occupation, ethnic conflict and other types of conflict were an ongoing reality, affecting women and men in nearly every region. They recalled that, building on the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the Platform for Action had stressed that violations of the human rights of women in times of armed conflict were violations of fundamental principles of international human rights and humanitarian law and emphasized that the implementation of cooperative approaches to peace and security was urgently needed. Noting the consequences of armed conflict for women, which included internal displacement and refugee flight, the speakers stressed the crucial role of women in the maintenance and promotion of peace and security and the preservation of social order in times of armed conflict. They also reiterated the Platform for Action’s emphasis on the importance of all forms of education to foster a culture of peace, tolerance and respect for diversity and stressed the critical role of an active and visible policy of mainstreaming a gender perspective into all policies and programmes to address armed conflict or other conflicts. 53. It was noted that contemporary armed conflict affected civilians disproportionately. Most conflicts were fought within, rather than between, States and were no longer fought exclusively by professional soldiers. Non-State actors, including paramilitaries and vigilantes, increasingly threatened the security of civilians, particularly women and children. Reduced tolerance for ethnic, religious and cultural diversity and decreased respect for the right to self-determination brought about instability. The easy availability of small arms, including landmines, to non-State actors had heightened the possibilities of civilian insecurity and risk, especially for women and children, during both conflict and post-conflict, in, inter alia, refugee camps and camps for the internally displaced. 54. Representatives noted that, although entire communities were affected by and suffered the consequences of armed conflict, women and girls were particularly affected because of their status in society and their sex. They suffered many forms of abuse during armed conflict, but were particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse, rape, sexual mutilation, sexually humiliating treatment, forcible impregnation, sexual slavery and forced marriages. Sexual -73-