FORUM: General Assembly 6

QUESTION OF: Protecting women and children in areas of

armed conflict
SUBMITTED BY: Ecuador
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Fully aware that armed conflicts have left populations vulnerable
to appalling forms of violence, including systematic rape,
abduction, amputation, mutilation, forced displacement, sexual
exploitation and genocide,
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, selfdetermination, 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,
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,
Bearing in mind the need to provide special protection of women
and children belonging to the civilian population,
1. Congratulates the past efforts made by various organizations to
protect women and children from armed conflict;

2. Encourages UNICEF to protect women and children which is an

organization that:
i.

ii.

Started a project to aid women and children in affected by

armed conflict, almost 1.6 million children were protected
from getting recruited by military forces and terrorist groups,
Provides skills training courses to over 5,000 children who
were taken out of army forces in Liberia;

3. Recommends stimulation of further discussion and bringing

awareness to a larger audience which in turn can cause activists
to rise and highlight the importance of this issue which can be
done by:
i.

ii.

iii.

Training and workshops for armed forces in the international

humanitarian law and human rights, specifically concerning
the protection of women and children,
Media and civil society must promote action as it holds a
significant amount of potential in influencing the opinions of
the public sphere,
By creating discussion on these grave issues like sexual
violence against children and women in areas of conflict and
war;

4. Further reminds criminal legislation must be reviewed upon to

guarantee that grave breaches of international humanitarian law
are recognized and punished for;
5. Accepts promoting codes of conduct and child-rights training
for all military and civilian peacekeeping personnel because:
i.
ii.

It is essential to eliminate maltreatment,

It will avoid the use of children in armed groups;

6. Designates organizations to make the child feel more secure

even in cases of displacement, especially with the implementation
of peer-to-peer counseling which can be done by:
i.

Creating child friendly spaces which is extremely important,

ii.

Protecting children from deadly diseases such as HIV and

AIDS;

7. Further reminds that grave breaches of international

humanitarian law should be ensured as they are recognized as
crimes that can be done by the following ways:
i.
ii.

International treaties must be respected and enforced by

those in charge, including State and non State entities,
Criminal legislation should be reviewed;

8. Stresses upon adequate training for armed forces in the rules of

international humanitarian law and human rights, especially those
concerning the protection of children;
9. Resolves the issue of protecting women and children in areas of
armed conflict.