Back to DAW news

The General Assembly, in resolution 52/231, decided to convene, from 5-9 June 2000, a Special Session to appraise and assess the progress achieved in the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and the Beijing Platform for Action, five years after its adoption. The Assembly also decided that it would consider further actions and initiatives during that Special Session. It established the format for the preparatory process, and designated the Commission on the Status of Women as the preparatory committee for the review.

The United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women would like to encourage non-governmental organizations, including women’s groups and other organizations of civil society to contribute to the preparatory process at national, regional and international level. Non-governmental organizations, including women’s groups and other organizations of civil society are encouraged to address in their forthcoming meetings or events the appraisal of progress achieved since the Beijing Conference within the context of the interest and expertise of each organization. These organizations are urged to identify further actions or initiatives that might be required to fully implement the Beijing Platform for Action beyond the year 2000.

The United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women would welcome receiving suggestions regarding implementation and further actions and initiatives. In the fall of 1998, informal consultations among Governments and other interested partners will be convened at United Nations Headquarters in New York. They are intended to support preparations for the first stage to take place during the forty-third session of the Commission on the Status of Women which will be held from 1-19 March 1999. At that time the Commission will initiate review and appraisal of progress and consideration of initial suggestions for further actions and initiatives. This will be an opportunity to begin consolidating ideas, good practices, and actions to accelerate achievement of the goals set out at Beijing.

Please forward suggestions and ideas to the Division for the Advancement of Women, Two UN Plaza, United Nations, New York, NY 10017, USA, fax: (212) 963-3462, e-mail: daw@un.org , addressed to "Beijing Review 2000".