Whereas the Government of Russia, led by Vladimir Putin, has engaged in an unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine and gross violations of international law amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity; Whereas the law of armed conflict, also known as international humanitarian law, is a set of international rules regulating the conduct of armed conflict; Whereas the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocols are the core of international humanitarian law, and many rules contained in these treaties are considered customary international law, binding on all states, whether or not they have ratified the treaties; Whereas Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine constitutes an international armed conflict governed by international humanitarian law as well as customary international humanitarian law; Whereas Article 51(2) of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, prohibits the targeting of civilians, as well as acts or threats of violence, the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population ; Whereas Article 76 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, states that women shall be protected in particular against rape, forced prostitution, and any other form of indecent assault ; Whereas Article 77 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions expresses that children shall be the object of special respect and shall be protected against any form of indecent assault ; Whereas, on June 19, 2008, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1820, noting that rape and other forms of sexual violence can constitute a war crime, a crime against humanity, or a constitutive act with respect to genocide , and calling for prosecuting persons responsible for such acts