23rd plenary meeting

4 May 1982

Abuses against women and children

The Economic and Social Council,

Taking note of the continued and consistent concern expressed by the international community at the blatant and inhuman abuses of women and children,

Recognizing the evils of such abuses as kidnapping, abduction, forced child labour, battered women and children, violence in the family, rape, prostitution, and the inevitable serious problems of mental and physical health,

Appalled by the resultant exploitation, oppression and violence to human dignity,

Believing that the abuse of women and children is an intolerable offence to the dignity of the human being and is a harsh indictment of our claim to be civilized,

1. Calls upon States Members of the United Nations to take immediate and energetic steps to combat these social evils and to inform the Secretary-General of the action taken;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to compile a study on the action taken by Member States and to submit the report to the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women, to be held in 1985, if so decided by the Preparatory Committee for the Conference.