Armed Conflict

Peace is a prerequisite for the attainment of equality between women and men. Unfortunately, armed and other types of conflict still persist in many parts of the world. Aggression, foreign occupation and ethnic and other conflicts are an ongoing reality affecting women and men In nearly every region, aided by excessive military expenditures and the arms trade.

Though women rarely have any role in the decisions leading to armed conflicts, they work to preserve social order in the midst of the conflicts. They also make an important contribution as peace educators and resolvers of conflicts.

The Platform recognizes that rape, which is common during armed conflicts, is a crime, and under certain circumstances is an act of genocide. It condemns "ethnic cleansing" as a strategy of war and rape as one of its consequences. Such practices must be stopped and their perpetrators punished, it asserts.

The Platform recommends action to:
• Increase the participation of women in conflict resolution at decision-making levels;
• Reduce excessive military expenditures and control the availability of armaments;
• Work towards the universal ratification of the anti-mine Convention and Protocol by the year 2000;
• Recognize the important roles and contributions of women in peace movements throughout the world;
• Recognize the need to protect women living in situations of armed and other conflict or under foreign occupation, or who have become refugees or displaced.

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