33. At the 15th meeting, on 22 March, the observer for Azerbaijan orally revised the draft resolution as follows: (a) The fifth preambular paragraph, which read: "Stressing that all forms of repression and cruel and inhuman treatment of women and children committed by belligerents in the course of military operations or in occupied territories, including taking them hostage, their imprisonment, the destruction of their dwellings and their forcible eviction, should be considered criminal", was deleted; (b) Operative paragraph 1, which read: "Condemns violence against women and children in areas of armed conflict, recognizing it as a violation of international humanitarian law, and calls for a particularly effective response to violations of this kind, including the immediate release of women and children taken hostage in areas of armed conflict", was changed to read: "Condemns violent acts in contravention of international humanitarian law against civilian women and children in areas of armed conflict and calls for an effective response to such acts, including the immediate release of such women and children taken hostage in areas of armed conflict". 34. At the same meeting, the observer for Germany proposed an amendment to the draft resolution whereby operative paragraph 2, which read: "Strongly urges all parties to conflicts to immediately release all women and children taken hostage in areas of armed conflict" was replaced by the following text: "Strongly urges all parties to armed conflicts to respect fully the norms of international humanitarian law in armed conflict and take all measures required for the protection of women and children, in particular the immediate release of women and children taken hostage or imprisoned". 35. The Commission then adopted the draft resolution, as orally revised and amended (see chap. I, sect. C, Commission resolution 40/1). Integration of women in the Middle East peace process 36. At the 12th meeting, on 20 March, the representative of the United States of America introduced and orally revised a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1996/L.3) entitled "Integration of women in the Middle East peace process". Subsequently, Costa Rica, Israel, 69/ Norway and the Russian Federation joined in sponsoring the draft resolution, which read as follows: -51-