****************************************************************************** This document has been made available in electronic format by the United Nations. Reproduction and dissemination of the document - in electronic and/or printed format - is encouraged, provided acknowledgement is made of the role of the United Nations in making it available. ****************************************************************************** UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM ACC/1995/8 6 July 1995 ENGLISH ONLY REPORT OF THE NINETEENTH AD HOC INTER-AGENCY MEETING ON WOMEN (New York, 13-14 March 1995) CONTENTS Paragraphs Page INTRODUCTION ............................................... 1 3 I. MATTERS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ON COORDINATION ............................ 2 - 3 3 II. PREPARATIONS FOR THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN 4 - 18 3 III. PROGRAMMING AND COORDINATION MATTERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM RELATED TO WOMEN ... 19 - 33 7 IV. OTHER MATTERS ........................................ 34 11 V. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TWENTIETH AD HOC INTER-AGENCY MEETING ON WOMEN ..................................... 35 11 Annexes I. AGENDA FOR THE NINETEENTH AD HOC INTER-AGENCY MEETING ON WOMEN ... 12 II. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ............................................. 13 III. PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE TWENTIETH AD HOC INTER-AGENCY MEETING ON WOMEN, 1996 ................................................... 16 IV. JOINT STATEMENT OF THE NINETEENTH AD HOC INTER-AGENCY MEETING ON WOMEN TO THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AT ITS THIRTY-NINTH SESSION .......................................................... 17 V. LIST OF AGENCY REQUESTS RECEIVED FOR OFFICE AND DISPLAY SPACE AT THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN ............................. 19 SUMMARY The main work of the nineteenth Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Meeting on Women centred on preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women, including discussions of preparations at the national, regional and global levels. The Meeting discussed the logistics of agency participation and office arrangements at the Conference. Particular attention was paid to arrangements for special events to be organized by agencies in conjunction with the Conference and agency exhibits at the Conference site. A joint inter-agency statement on the institutionalization of a system-wide inter-agency structure with competence on gender (annex IV) was prepared for delivery to the Commission on the Status of Women at its thirty-ninth session. The Meeting held discussions on the preparations of the revised system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women for the period 1996-2001. Two recommendations were submitted to the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC): one concerning the status of the Meeting as the regular inter-agency coordination and cooperation mechanism for the implementation of the Platform for Action to be adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women and for the programme on the advancement of women and gender issues; the other concerning an extraordinary session of the Meeting during the fiftieth session of the General Assembly to consider a draft of the revised system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women. The Meeting was briefed on preparations for the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations; preparations for the Non-governmental Organizations Forum on Women 1995; and the work of the Task Force on Implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development and follow-up to United Nations conferences. INTRODUCTION 1. The nineteenth ad hoc Inter-Agency Meeting on Women was held at New York on 13 and 14 March 1995, prior to the thirty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The Secretary-General of the Fourth World Conference on Women addressed the Meeting. The agenda for the Meeting and the list of participants are contained in annexes I and II. I. MATTERS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE ON COORDINATION Recommendations 2. With regard to its status, the Meeting reiterated the recommendation made by the eighteenth Meeting that ACC give urgent attention to regularizing and establishing it on a permanent basis as one of its subsidiary bodies. At the same time, the Meeting stressed the need for all other subsidiary bodies of ACC to integrate a gender approach. The Meeting reiterated that its mandate and terms of reference should be strengthened and revised in light of the results of the Fourth World Conference on Women. The Meeting underlined the important role it had played in the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and in the preparatory process for the Fourth World Conference on Women. It stressed the urgent need for continued regular inter-agency coordination and cooperation in the implementation of the Platform for Action to be adopted at the Conference and for the programme on the advancement of women and gender issues. 3. In keeping with Economic and Social Council resolution 1993/16 of 27 July 1993, the Secretary-General in his capacity as Chairman of ACC was requested to arrange for the revision of the system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women for the period 1996-2001 after the adoption of the Platform for Action by the Fourth World Conference on Women. Consequently, after discussing the structure and timetable for preparing the revised plan, the Inter-Agency Meeting recommended that an extraordinary Inter-Agency Meeting be convened in conjunction with the discussion of the item on the advancement of women by the Third Committee at the fiftieth session of the General Assembly, approximately the first week in November 1995, to consider a draft of the revised plan for submission to the Commission on the Status of Women at its fortieth session for its comments and thence to ACC for adoption at its first regular session of 1996. II. PREPARATIONS FOR THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN 4. The Meeting discussed various elements of Conference preparations, as described below. A. Thirty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women 5. The Meeting reviewed the provisional agenda and proposed programme of work of the thirty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women as the preparatory body for the Fourth World Conference on Women, as well as the participation of the representatives of the United Nations system in the session of the Commission. Given the anticipated time constraints for the general debate, alternatives for agency presentations were also discussed. The documentation before the Commission was reviewed; the contribution of the United Nations system to a number of documents was highlighted, including the contributions and comments that had been received by the Conference secretariat in the process of preparing the draft Platform for Action. 6. It was pointed out that the results of all five regional preparatory conferences would be before the Commission. The efforts of the regional commissions in the successful preparation and conduct of the regional preparatory conferences were especially noted. The valuable contributions of the various entities of the United Nations system to the preparatory process for the Conference, especially to national preparations, were acknowledged. 7. Funding agencies were encouraged to continue to provide particular support to developing countries in their preparations, including for the travel expenses of governmental and non-governmental organizations representatives. B. Regional preparatory conferences and follow-up 8. The Meeting discussed the results of the regional preparatory conferences and the efforts under way to move from preparation to implementation of the results. It was noted that the preparatory process had generated a large number of national reports, which provided specific information about the concrete situation of women, and a clear and realistic base for follow-up and for national and regional action. The large number of national reports was also seen as a reflection of the interest the Conference had generated at the grass- roots level. At the same time, the national reports had constituted an important input into the preparation of the regional plans and programmes of action, as well as of the draft Platform for Action. It was noted that Governments were being encouraged to make copies of their national reports available, at their own expense, at the Conference. 9. The Meeting discussed the relationship and complementarity between the regional plans and platforms for action and the global Platform for Action to be adopted at the Conference. It was stressed that while the global Platform would be the base for action, the regional plans and platforms provided greater detail and specificity on regional priorities. It was also pointed out that the regional plans and platforms had served as input into the further development of the draft Platform for Action. C. Activities of entities of the United Nations system 10. Participants provided updates on recent and planned activities in conjunction with the Conference. Various information materials were made available. D. Special events planned in conjunction with the Conference 11. Discussion of this matter was preceded by the statement that the holding of special events was dependent upon the availability of a suitable Conference room at the site for about 200 persons, which had not yet been confirmed by the host country. Interested entities of the United Nations system would have the opportunity to organize such events at the Conference site within a thematic framework reflecting the areas of concern of the Conference. The Conference secretariat would be able to facilitate the preparation of a schedule, but it would be the responsibility of the organizing entities to prepare and organize the event, including the logistics, with the authorities of the host country. Any costs connected with such events would also be the responsibility of the organizing entities. Interpretation services would be the responsibility of the Office of Conference Services on the basis of availability. Given the time limitations - a maximum of eight days - entities were strongly encouraged to coordinate their efforts and organize joint events whenever possible. Based on expressions of interest already received, it was anticipated that no more than three hours would be allocated per event. It was suggested that book launches be arranged by agencies either as press conferences or in connection with other special events. The intent of United Nations publications to have a display area was noted. Once the agreement of the host country had been obtained, the Conference secretariat would endeavour to develop the most satisfactory schedule possible, based on written requests in the order they had been received. It was noted that 8 September would be International Literacy Day, to be celebrated adequately in the framework of the Conference. 12. Since the Department of Public Information of the United Nations Secretariat would be responsible for coordinating the media aspects of the Conference, interested agencies and other entities were encouraged to present requests for press conferences in writing as soon as possible so that a media schedule could be prepared. Press conferences would normally be of 30 minutes' duration, without interpretation. Participants were encouraged to contribute to the sponsorship of journalists from developing countries for the journalists' encounter that would be organized by the Department in conjunction with the Conference. E. Office and exhibit space for agencies and other entities at the Conference site 13. The Meeting discussed the availability of office and exhibit space that would be provided for the United Nations system at the Conference site. The number of offices, including equipment and furnishings, as well as of exhibit space, was discussed. For exhibits, tables of approximately 2 metres with two chairs, wall space, and power outlets would be available in a corridor area on the second floor for each agency wishing to put up an exhibit, within the availability of space. Given that the number of offices for the United Nations system (a total of 10 offices) and the amount of exhibit space (47 metres) exceeded the requests for those facilities, agencies were informed that offices as well as exhibit space would need to be shared within the available resources. It was pointed out that the provision of any additional equipment, especially with regard to displays, such as television monitors, video screens etc. was the responsibility of the agencies. A consolidated list of office and display space requests was compiled. 14. The Meeting reviewed the general layout of the Conference site, including the number of seats in the plenary and in the committee rooms for the Conference, as well as the limited availability of small conference rooms. 15. The United Nations Safety and Security Services would be responsible for issuance of passes for all Conference participants, including United Nations system representatives. It remained to be clarified whether day passes would be issued in conjunction with special events. 16. In view of the deadlines and other constraints connected with the planning of special events at the Conference site as well as at the Non-Governmental Organizations Forum, and the requirements established by the host country with regard to hotel reservations and deposits, the Meeting urged the secretariat of the Fourth World Conference on Women to ascertain, at the earliest possible date, the policy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations with regard to the number of United Nations system staff that would be authorized to attend the Conference so that planning could proceed without delay. F. Non-Governmental Organizations Forum on Women 95 17. The Meeting was briefed by the Executive Director of the Non- Governmental Organizations Forum on Women 95, scheduled to take place in Beijing from 30 August to 8 September 1995. She discussed the issues the non-governmental organizations participants hoped to bring into the preparatory process for the Conference, and the global mobilization of non-governmental organizations and women's groups that had taken place at the national, regional and global levels. She reviewed the non-governmental organizations preparations for the thirty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, particularly with regard to input into the draft Platform for Action. As the interest in the Forum and the Conference were very strong globally, she stressed the intention to secure electronic links from the Forum to all regions, as well as video conferencing sites. 18. Information about the logistics of agency participation in the Forum were discussed, including the joint or individual organization of events and the deadline for registration (30 April 1995). In that regard, the Meeting was also urged to make early decisions about funding non-governmental organizations participants. It was noted with appreciation that one building within the Non-Governmental Organizations Forum complex would be allocated to representatives of the United Nations system. It remained to be confirmed whether United Nations staff would have to register separately to attend the Forum. III. PROGRAMMING AND COORDINATION MATTERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM RELATED TO WOMEN 19. Reference was made to past cooperative efforts in joint report preparation, including the 1994 World Survey on the Role of Women in Development, 1/ which had just been published, and the forthcoming second edition of the World's Women, which would be launched at the Fourth World Conference on Women, as well as the second review and appraisal of the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, which was also a forthcoming United Nations publication. A. Priority themes 20. The Meeting was briefed on the legislative basis for the preparation of reports on three priority themes for the thirty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The proposed approach and schedule of preparation were discussed. Agency cooperation and input was strongly encouraged, and a number of entities indicated their willingness to contribute. The usefulness of identifying additional funding to increase participation in the expert group meetings on the topics was pointed out. 21. The priority themes for 1996 are: (a) "Equality: elimination of stereotyping of women in the mass media". On this topic, the Meeting stressed in particular the need to ensure a gender approach, i.e., to look at the portrayal of both men and women in the media; (b) "Development: child and dependent care, including sharing of work and family responsibilities". The Meeting recommended in particular the inclusion of the question of child care in relation to household economics under this topic; (c) "Peace: education for peace". This topic would build on previous work of the Division for the Advancement of Women and its relationship with critical areas of concern of the Platform for Action, i.e., the effects of armed and other kinds of conflict on women, would be established. The relevance of all three topics for the implementation of the Platform for Action was stressed. B. Reports to be prepared for the fiftieth session of the General Assembly 22. Three reports requiring agency contributions would be prepared: on the improvement of the situation of women in rural areas; violence against women migrant workers; and trafficking in women. While requests for contribution to the two latter reports had already been sent to agencies, further discussions with regard to the report on rural women were held, taking into consideration the considerable expertise and work that existed within the system on that issue. It was also pointed out that the timely issuance of the report was very important, especially since the present triennial report was to be considered by the Third Committee. C. System-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women for the period 1996-2001 23. The Meeting discussed the framework for revising the medium-term plan on the basis of a discussion note outlining the proposed structure and time-frame of preparation. The relationship between the medium-term plan and the results of other United Nations conferences was mentioned, and the need to ensure that those conferences were reflected in the plan was stressed. 24. The Meeting agreed that, instead of using subprogrammes, the medium-term plan would follow the critical areas of concern of the Platform for Action. It was agreed that joint and individual actions by the United Nations system could be clustered by type of action under each of the critical areas of concern rather than by section. It was stressed that the medium-term plan should be a realistic planning tool, taking into consideration regional plans and programmes of action, national priorities, and the follow-up required under other international conferences. Concern was expressed that notwithstanding best efforts, some overlapping among the different parts of the system might be unavoidable. 25. The Meeting agreed that the Division for the Advancement of Women of the United Nations Secretariat would prepare a shell of the revised plan by June, based on the draft Platform for Action, to be circulated to the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system for input. This first stage would already give an indication of the clustering of actions, which would be followed by the agencies' identification of responsibilities. A first reading of the draft would take place during the Fourth World Conference on Women, since many representatives were expected to be present. It was agreed to recommend to the ACC that it convene an extraordinary Inter-Agency Meeting on Women of three days' duration at the time of the consideration of the item on the advancement of women by the Third Committee of the General Assembly at its fiftieth session in order to allow for an in-depth discussion and review of the medium-term plan. That would ensure that a draft of the plan could be prepared in time to be submitted to the Commission on the Status of Women at its fortieth session for its comments. D. Status of the Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Meeting on Women 26. The Meeting noted with concern that in response to the recommendation of the eighteenth Meeting to ACC that the Meeting be regularized, the ACC Organizational Committee, at its first regular session of 1994, had agreed to postpone discussion on the matter until after the Fourth World Conference on Women. The Meeting felt that the continuing existence and regularization of the mechanism for inter-agency cooperation and coordination on the advancement of women remained indispensable, and would be critical for effective follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women. The Meeting had been an effective support mechanism, especially for the very small women in development units. While its annual meetings had served a very useful role in the exchange of information, the activities of the Meeting went far beyond that to encompass substantive and programmatic activities, as well as coordination activities. It was seen as an essential tool in the ongoing effort of mainstreaming women's and gender issues throughout the policy-making, programming and project activities of the entities of the United Nations system. The preparatory process for the Fourth World Conference on Women had strongly reaffirmed the important link between the different parts of the United Nations system, and the Meeting provided the framework for extensive coordination of efforts on an ad hoc basis at the regional and global levels. It was also pointed out that during the debate on the item on the advancement of women during the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly, a number of delegations had supported the regularization of the Meeting, and had commented favourably on inter-agency cooperation in preparation for the Conference. Concern was expressed that a postponement of the decision on the status of the Meeting until after the Conference would jeopardize much of what had been accomplished and would weaken system-wide capacity for the advancement of women at a time when renewed efforts and accountability from Governments, non-governmental organizations and international organizations with regard to the advancement of women were being sought. 27. Accordingly, the Meeting reiterated its recommendation that ACC consider as a matter of urgency its regularization as an ACC subsidiary body and strengthen its mandate and terms of reference in the light of the results of the Fourth World Conference on Women. E. Preparations for the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations 28. The Meeting was briefed by the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on Public Policy on the preparations and activities under way for the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations. In describing the multitude of activities under way at the national, regional and global levels in many sectors and on many issues, she stressed both the intellectual core of the anniversary and its celebratory character. She encouraged the entities of the United Nations system to use the anniversary as an umbrella and to build issues of the advancement of women into their own anniversary activities. 29. The Meeting appreciated the efforts undertaken by the Special Adviser in the anniversary preparations. F. Follow-up to international conferences 30. The Meeting was briefed by the Manager of the Task Force on Implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development. She outlined the rationale behind the establishment of the Task Force which had been convened by the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) at the request of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on behalf of the Secretary-General. The Task Force mandate included the development of a framework for holistic national reporting in the follow-up to all United Nations conferences and of proposals for inter-agency collaboration, including collaboration in such areas as the development of a common data system. So far, four working groups had been established to develop such proposals. One output was expected to be the preparation of guidelines for resident coordinators for their work at the national level on implementation of the results of the Conference and other United Nations conferences. A lead agency had been identified for each working group so as to utilize the comparative advantages for implementation of the various parts of the United Nations system. The report of the Task Force would be submitted annually to the Commission on Population and Development, as well as to ACC. 31. The representative of the Population Division of the United Nations Secretariat provided information on the new mandate, terms of reference and working methods of the renamed Commission on Population and Development. The Commission would meet annually, and, subject to relevant decisions by the Economic and Social Council, would follow a topical-oriented and prioritized multi-year work programme, culminating in a quinquennial review and appraisal of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development. The Population Division had the main responsibility for servicing the Commission, while other United Nations bodies, including regional commissions, UNFPA and other entities were to provide relevant information to the Commission in their areas of expertise. 32. The Meeting discussed the relationship between the work of the Task Force and the overall coordination and modus operandi of the United Nations system, as well as of the emerging trend in functional commissions to take a thematic/topical approach, which had been pioneered by the Commission on the Status of Women in 1987. The emphasis on interlinkages in the work of various functional commissions was noted, as well as the renewed emphasis to relate the activities of the agencies more closely to the substantive work of the functional commissions. The Meeting stressed the need to follow those trends closely for their relevance to gender issues. The intended development of a common framework for reporting and its relevance for the implementation of the Platform for Action were addressed. It was pointed out that, while there was a need to strengthen the focal points on women at the level of the regional coordinators, such efforts should be built on whatever mechanisms already existed. In that regard, the success of the preparations for the regional conferences by the regional commissions, including the preparation of 140 national reports in a cooperative effort, as well as the reflection of the results of the International Conference on Population and Development in the regional plans and programmes for action, were emphasized. 33. The Meeting decided to continue discussion of the matter at its twentieth Meeting. IV. OTHER MATTERS 34. Following the request of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women for stronger participation of the agencies and bodies of the United Nations in implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Meeting invited the Chairperson of the Committee to address it. The Chairperson appealed to the Meeting to engage the Committee as a whole or its individual members in relevant activities undertaken by them, and to assist the Committee to the extent possible in strengthening the visibility of both the Committee and the Convention. The Meeting discussed the importance of the Convention to overall efforts for the advancement of women, especially the role of legal literacy; the efforts of various entities were described. V. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TWENTIETH AD HOC INTER-AGENCY MEETING ON WOMEN 35. The twentieth Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Meeting on Women will take place prior to the fortieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women in 1996. Annex III contains the agenda for the twentieth Meeting. Note 1/ United Nations publication, Sales No. 95.IV.1. Annex I AGENDA FOR THE NINETEENTH AD HOC INTER-AGENCY MEETING ON WOMEN 1. Opening of the meeting. 2. Adoption of the agenda. 3. Preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women: (a) Thirty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women as a preparatory committee for the Fourth World Conference on Women; (b) Special events during the Conference; (c) Non-Governmental Organizations Forum on Women 95. 4. Programming and coordination matters of the United Nations and United Nations system related to women: (a) Coordination of report preparations; (b) Revisions to the system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women for 1996-2001; (c) Status of the Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Meeting on Women; (d) Activities for the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations; (e) Follow-up to international conferences (World Conference on Human Rights, International Conference on Population and Development, World Summit for Social Development). 5. Operational activities. 6. Other matters: Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. 7. Adoption of the report. Annex II LIST OF PARTICIPANTS United Nations Department for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development Division for the Advancement of Women Ms. Gertrude Mongella (Secretary-General of the Fourth World Conference on Women) Ms. Kristen Timothy (Chairperson) Mr. John Mathiason Ms. Christine Brautigam (Secretary) Ms. Maria Hartl Ms. Magaly Roman-Martinez Ms. Natalia Zakharova Ms. Nora Galer Ms. Herta Kaschitz Ms. Matilda Vasquez Ms. Mallica Vajrathon Ms. Semia Guermas Ms. Dorota Gierycz Ms. Rasheda Selim Division for Policy Coordination and Economic and Social Affairs Ms. Edith Castellares Department for Economic and Social Ms. Joann Vanek Information and Policy Analysis Ms. MaryBeth Weinberger Department for Development Support and Management Services Ms. Tsu-wei Chang Department of Humanitarian Affairs Ms. Joyce Mends-Cole Department of Public Information Ms. Tina Jorgensen Mr. Hasan Ferdous Office of Human Resources Management Ms. Angela King Centre for Human Rights Ms. Rukia Hussen-Aden Ms. Elsa Stamatopoulou-Robbins United Nations Drug Control Programme, New York Office Ms. Andrea Wurm Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Ms. Meena Patel Economic Commission for Latin Ms. Miriam Krawczyk America and the Caribbean Ms. Asha Kambon Economic Commission for Africa Ms. Mebo Mwaniki Economic Commission for Western Asia Ms. Amina Adam Regional Commissions, New York Office Ms. Margaret McCaffery United Nations Children's Fund Ms. Misrak Elias United Nations Development Programme Ms. Rosina Wiltshire Ms. Wafas Ofosu-Amaah Mr. Benjamin Gurman United Nations Volunteers Ms. Jean Anglin United Nations Development Fund Ms. Ana Maria Brasilero for Women Ms. Beti Astolfi Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ms. Julie Messina-Franco United Nations Population Fund Ms. Virginia Ofosu-Amaah Mr. Asger Ryhl International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women Ms. Martha Duenas-Loza World Food Programme Ms. Els Kocken Mr. Hernando Clavijo United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute Ms. Angela Patrignani United Nations University Ms. Valentine Moghadam United Nations Centre for Human Ms. Catalina Hinchey Trujillo Settlements Ms. Aliye Pekin-Celik Ms. Christina Engfeld Ms. Annika Torqvist United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Mr. William Lee United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Mr. K. Rahman United Nations Environment Programme Ms. Honorine Kiplagat Non-governmental Liaison Service Ms. Kirsti Floor Specialized agencies International Labour Organization Ms. Jane Youyun Zhang Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Ms. Leena M. Kirjavainen United Nations Educational, Ms. Ingeborg Breines Scientific and Cultural Organization Ms. Jaqueline Lemoine Ms. Zofia Olszowski World Health Organization Mr. Steve Krause Ms. Cecilia Rose-Oduyemi World Bank Ms. Kei Kawabata Ms. Anette Steen Pedersen Ms. Paola Cesarini Ms. Elene Makonnen International Maritime Organization Ms. Miriam Blugh International Fund for Agricultural Development Ms. Mona Fikri United Nations Industrial Development Organization Ms. Marie-Ann Martin International Trade Centre Ms. Ingrid I. Vanore-Speer Guest speakers Special Adviser to the Secretary- General on Public Policy Ms. Gillian Sorensen Manager of the Task Force on the Implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development Ms. Catherine Pierce Chairperson, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women Ms. Ivanka Corti Executive Director, Non-Governmental Organizations Forum on Women 95 Ms. Irene Santiago Office of Overseas Construction Mr. Janos von Pragay Annex III PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE TWENTIETH AD HOC INTER-AGENCY MEETING ON WOMEN, 1996 1. Opening of the meeting. 2. Adoption of the agenda. 3. Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women. 4. Programming and coordination matters of the United Nations and United Nations system related to women: (a) Implementation of the system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women for 1996-2001; (b) Coordination of report preparations; (c) Status of the Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Meeting on Women; (d) Follow-up to international conferences (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, World Conference on Human Rights, International Conference on Population and Development, World Summit for Social Development, and preparations for the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II). 5. Operational activities. 6. Other matters. 7. Adoption of the report. Annex IV JOINT STATEMENT OF THE NINETEENTH AD HOC INTER-AGENCY MEETING ON WOMEN TO THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AT ITS THIRTY-NINTH SESSION The representatives of more than 30 organizations and specialized agencies of the United Nations system participating in the nineteenth Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Meeting on Women have the honour to introduce a joint inter-agency statement pertaining to the future activities of the Meeting and its role in realizing the objectives of the Platform for Action to have been adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women. Since its inception, the Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Meeting on Women, in concert with the outcome of the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, the gender and development focal points of the specialized agencies, and funds and programmes of the United Nations, has been meeting on an ad hoc basis to coordinate system-wide activities with respect to the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and to prepare for the Fourth World Conference on Women. Preparations for the Conference included extensive inter-agency contributions to the 1994 World Survey on the Role of Women in Development, to the draft Platform for Action and to the national and regional preparatory activities. The Meeting has provided the principal means for exchange of information and coordination of activities within the United Nations system towards those ends. The Meeting has also been involved in programme planning and coordination of activities under the system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women for the period 1996-2001. Moreover, the Meeting has made possible consolidated inputs to the Commission of the Status of Women in the form of joint statements. Furthermore, the Meeting has provided the opportunity for United Nations bodies to systematically inform each other of relevant activities and to embark upon collaborative projects. Indeed, during the nineteenth Meeting, participants had already started the process of organizing joint events within the framework of the Fourth World Conference on Women and beyond. Due to such exchange of information, coordination of activities and avoidance of duplication of efforts, as well as the development of a more integrated approach to women's concerns and gender-and-development issues among the specialized agencies, the realization of the women in development/gender mandates has been enhanced in a systematic manner. A major objective that has emerged in recent years is gender mainstreaming. Through the activities mentioned above, the Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Meeting on Women is contributing to the full integration of women's concerns and of gender analysis and planning within the specialized agencies and throughout the United Nations. Furthermore, there is a vital role to be played by the United Nations system in the implementation of the declarations and programmes of action adopted at international conferences, such as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, the World Conference on Human Rights, the International Conference on Population and Development, and the World Summit for Social Development. In paragraph 202, the draft Platform for Action had stated that the institutional and financial capacity of the United Nations to carry out its responsibilities for implementation of the Platform for Action should be strengthened. In order to accomplish that strengthening in a manner that ensures the complementarity and synergy of the activities of the United Nations system in assisting national governments in the implementation of the Platform for Action, it is critical that an inter-agency mechanism be institutionalized, since to date there has been no such formal system-wide structure with competence on gender. Annex V LIST OF AGENCY REQUESTS RECEIVED FOR OFFICE AND DISPLAY SPACE AT THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN Offices There will be a total of 5 offices for the regional commissions and 10 offices for the entities of the United Nations system available at the Conference site. They will be equipped as follows: one desk, one table, six to eight chairs, one IBM compatible (unless otherwise specified) computer and printer, one international and one local phone line, and power outlets. Use of a fax machine and photocopier will also be available. Display space There will be a total of 47 metres (m) of wall space available for exhibits and displays. The following will be provided in terms of furnishings: Tables of approximately 2m, two chairs, wall space and one or two power outlets. Agency Office Display space INSTRAW X X (posters and publications) World Bank X X (publications, CD-ROM) FAO X X (publications etc.) ILO X X (publications etc.) OHRM* X X (publications) UNV X X (publications etc.) WHO X X (publications) UNU X X (publications) Habitat X X IFAD X X WFP X X UNEP X X (publications etc.) UNIDO X X UNICRI/ Centre for Human Rights X X UNFPA X X ESCAP X X UNHCR X X (publications etc.) UNESCO X X DDSMS* X ITC X X (if possible) ECLAC X X (publications) ECE X X UNDCP X X UNICEF X X UNIFEM X X DESIPA* X NGLS X X IMF X X ________________________ * OHRM, DDSMS and DESIPA are provided for separately. -----