A/RES/50/193 Page 4 context of the odious practice of ethnic cleansing, which has been the direct cause of the vast majority of human rights violations there and whose principal victims have been the Muslim population, as well as the Croats and others, Also gravely concerned at reports, including by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, of grave violations of international humanitarian law and of human rights in and around Srebrenica, and in the areas of Banja Luka and Sanski Most, including reports of mass murder, unlawful detention and forced labour, rape and deportation of civilians, Dismayed by the huge number of missing persons still unaccounted for, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Croatia, Deeply concerned by the situations reflected in the report of the Secretary-General on rape and abuse of women in the areas of armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia, 13/ and stressing the need for detailed reporting on this subject, Alarmed that the conflict in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the Republic of Croatia has also been characterized by the systematic destruction and profanation of mosques, churches and other places of worship, religious buildings and sites of cultural heritage, Expressing its particular concern for the situation of the children and the elderly as well as other vulnerable groups in the area, Calling attention to the reports and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the territories of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro), including the most recent report 14/ by the newly appointed Special Rapporteur, Mrs. Elisabeth Rehn, Expressing its deep appreciation for the activity and efforts of the previous Special Rapporteur, Mr. Tadeusz Mazowiecki, in the discharge of his mandate, Noting the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur that respect for human rights should be given priority during and after the peace negotiations and that, without genuine improvements in the human rights situation in the area, any peace agreement will not have a solid foundation, 1. Commends both the former and the current Special Rapporteurs of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia for their efforts, and notes that the presence of the Special Rapporteur can be a positive factor towards reducing the instances of all human rights violations in the region; 2. Expresses its outrage at the instances of massive and systematic violations of human rights and humanitarian law as described in the reports of the Special Rapporteur, including ethnic cleansing, killings, disappearances, 13/ A/50/329. 14/ See A/50/727-S/1995/933. /...