2. Expresses its outrage that the continuing and systematic practice of rape is being used as a weapon of war and an instrument of ethnic cleansing against the women and children in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 3. Demands that those involved immediately cease those outrageous acts, which are in gross violation of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 19/ and the Additional Protocols thereto of 1977, 20/ and take immediate action to ensure the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with their obligations under those instruments and other applicable international human rights instruments; 4. Urges all States Members of the United Nations to take joint and separate action, in cooperation with the United Nations, to bring about an end to this despicable practice; 5. Condemns the continuous and persistent denial of access by the Bosnian Serb forces to the Special Rapporteur, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Protection Force, as well as other relevant humanitarian and human rights organizations, in the Serb-held areas, in particular Banja Luka, Bijeljina and other areas of concern, and demands that immediate and unimpeded access be granted, and in this context welcomes Security Council resolution 941 (1994) of 23 September 1994; 6. 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; 7. Declares that rape is a heinous crime and encourages 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 to give due priority to the cases of the victims of rape in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia, in particular in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 8. Urges Member States to exert every effort to bring to justice, in accordance with internationally recognized principles of due process, all those individuals directly or indirectly involved in these outrageous international crimes; 9. Urges the Chief Prosecutor to consider the appointment to his office of experts in the prosecution of crimes of sexual violence, as recommended in General Assembly resolution 48/153 of 20 December 1993; 10. Calls upon States to put experts, including experts in the prosecution of crimes of sexual violence, at the disposal of the Chief Prosecutor and Tribunal; 11. Encourages the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia to continue to pay particular attention to the widespread occurrence of rape, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and acknowledges the work done by his team of female experts; 12. Urges all States and relevant organizations to give immediate and serious consideration to the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur in his -17-