International humanitarian law stipulates a whole array of rules regarding th...

International humanitarian law stipulates a whole array of rules regarding the protection of civilians, including the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. Under those rules, the parties to a conflict are prohibited from withholding water and food supplies from civilians, from attacking facilities liable to release hazardous substances, and from massive and indiscriminate bombing of cities or any urban centres. Besides those general provisions, women are entitled to special treatment to protect their specific vulnerability. They are therefore protected from rape, sexual slavery and all discriminatory or degrading practices linked to their gender, such as forced prostitution, forced artificial insimination and so forth. However, we regret to note that in conflicts under way throughout the world those obligations are rarely observed. In fact, they are routinely violated.