E/2001/27 E/CN.6/2001/14 B. Matters brought to the attention of the Council 2. The following resolutions and decisions adopted by the Commission are brought to the attention of the Council: Resolution 45/1 Release of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts * The Commission on the Status of Women, Having considered with appreciation the section of the report of the SecretaryGeneral on the follow-up to and implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action concerning the release of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflict; 38 Recalling its resolutions 39/2 of 31 March 1995, 40/1 of 22 March 1996, 41/1 of 21 March 1997, 42/2 of 13 March 1998, 43/1 of 12 March 1999 and 44/1 of 2 March 2000, Recalling also the relevant provisions contained in the instruments of international humanitarian law relative to the protection of women and children in areas of armed conflict, Welcoming the adoption of the Beijing Declaration 39 and Platform for Action 40 by the Fourth World Conference on Women and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”,41 including the provisions regarding violence against women and children, Expressing grave concern at the continuation of armed conflicts in many regions throughout the world and the human suffering and humanitarian emergencies they have caused, Emphasizing that all forms of violence committed against the civilian population, in particular women and children in areas of armed conflict, including capturing them as hostages, seriously contravene international humanitarian law for the protection of victims of war, in particular the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, 42 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 and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century��, __________________ * 38 39 40 41 42 22 For the discussion, see chap. II. E/CN.6/2001/2, paras. 101 - 1 2 1 . Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 ( U n i t e d Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. Ibid., annex II. General Assembly resolutions S-23/2, annex, and S-23/3, anne x . United Nations Treaty Series , v o l . 7 5 , N o s . 9 7 0 - 9 7 3 .