Geneva: The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva has unanimously adopted a resolution presented by Qatar to protect the rights of women and children in conflict and post-conflict settings.
Qatar tabled the resolution, which seeks to ensure justice, remedies, and reparations for the victims, on behalf of a core group that also includes Costa Rica.
The resolution received broad support, with more than 70 countries co-sponsoring it across various regional blocs.
In presenting the resolution, Qatar's Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, HE Dr Hind Abdulrahman Al Muftah, highlighted the alarming rise in armed conflicts worldwide-estimated at 130 by the International Committee of the Red Cross-and the disproportionate impact on civilians, particularly women and children.
She stressed that these groups often suffer grave violations of their fundamental rights due to the disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law, and that existing mechanisms for justice and reparations remain inadequate amid growing impunity.
HE Dr Al Muftah described the resolution as a sincere call for practical measures to better protect women and children in conflict zones and ensure their voices remain central in justice and accountability processes.
The resolution drew strong praise from member states during the adoption session. Five countries spoke on behalf of regional groups-Kuwait (Gulf Cooperation Council), Algeria (Arab Group), Indonesia (OIC), Cyprus (EU), and Kyrgyzstan (Turkic-speaking states)-alongside 15 other countries, all of whom underscored the resolution's timeliness and its comprehensive approach to protecting vulnerable populations in conflict and post-conflict settings, in line with international legal obligations
