Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict

Declaration on the Protection of Women and
Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict

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Proclaimed by General Assembly resolution 3318
(XXIX) of 14 December 1974

The General Assembly ,

Having considered the recommendation of the Economic and Social
Council contained in its resolution 1861 (LVI) of 16 May 1974,

Expressing its deep concern over the sufferings of women and
children belonging to the civilian population who in periods of
emergency and armed conflict in the struggle for peace,
self-determination, national liberation and independence are too
often the victims of inhuman acts and consequently suffer serious
harm,

Aware of the suffering of women and children in many areas of the
world, especially in those areas subject to suppression, aggression,
colonialism, racism, alien domination and foreign subjugation,

Deeply concerned by the fact that, despite general and
unequivocal condemnation, colonialism, racism and alien and foreign
domination continue to subject many peoples under their yoke,
cruelly suppressing the national liberation movements and inflicting
heavy losses and incalculable sufferings on the populations under
their domination, including women and children,

Deploring the fact that grave attacks are still being made on
fundamental freedoms and the dignity of the human person and that
colonial and racist foreign domination Powers continue to violate
international humanitarian law,

Recalling the relevant provisions contained in the instruments of
international humanitarian law relative to the protection of women
and children in time of peace and war,

Recalling , among other important documents, its resolutions 2444
(XXIII) of 19 December 1968, 2597 (XXIV) of 16 December 1969 and
2674 (XXV) and 2675 (XXV) of 9 December 1970, on respect for human
rights and on basic principles for the protection of civilian
populations in armed conflicts, as well as Economic and Social
Council resolution 1515 (XLVIII) of 28 May 1970 in which the Council
requested the General Assembly to consider the possibility of
drafting a declaration on the protection of women and children in
emergency or wartime,

Conscious of its responsibility for the destiny of the rising
generation and for the destiny of mothers, who play an important
role in society, in the family and particularly in the upbringing of
children,

Bearing in mind the need to provide special protection of women
and children belonging to the civilian population,

Solemnly proclaims this Declaration on the Protection of Women
and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict and calls for the
strict observance of the Declaration by all Member States:

1. Attacks and bombings on the civilian population,
inflicting incalculable suffering, especially on women and children,
who are the most vulnerable members of the population, shall be
prohibited, and such acts shall be condemned. 

2. The use of chemical and bacteriological weapons in the
course of military operations constitutes one of the most flagrant
violations of the Geneva Protocol of 1925, the Geneva Conventions of
1949 and the principles of international humanitarian law and
inflicts heavy losses on civilian populations, including defenceless
women and children, and shall be severely condemned. 

3. All States shall abide fully by their obligations under
the Geneva Protocol of 1925 and the Geneva Conventions of 1949, as
well as other instruments of international law relative to respect
for human rights in armed conflicts, which offer important
guarantees for the protection of women and children. 

4. All efforts shall be made by States involved in armed
conflicts, military operations in foreign territories or military
operations in territories still under colonial domination to spare
women and children from the ravages of war. All the necessary steps
shall be taken to ensure the prohibition of measures such as
persecution, torture, punitive measures, degrading treatment and
violence, particularly against that part of the civilian population
that consists of women and children. 

5. All forms of repression and cruel and inhuman treatment
of women and children, including imprisonment, torture, shooting,
mass arrests, collective punishment, destruction of dwellings and
forcible eviction, committed by belligerents in the course of
military operations or in occupied territories shall be considered
criminal. 

6. Women and children belonging to the civilian population
and finding themselves in circumstances of emergency and armed
conflict in the struggle for peace, self-determination, national
liberation and independence, or who live in occupied territories,
shall not be deprived of shelter, food, medical aid or other
inalienable rights, in accordance with the provisions of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights, the Declaration of the Rights of the
Child or other instruments of international
law.