E/1999/60
Distr.:General
1 June 1999
Original: English


 

Substantive session of 1999

Geneva, 5–30 July 1999

Item 6 of the provisional agenda*

 

Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to major United Nations conferences and summits

 

*E/1999/100.

 

 

Report of the Commission on the Status of Women acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” on its second session

 

 

Contents


             Chapter

 

Page

 

 

 

                   I.     Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social Council.......................................................

 

3

 

 

 

                          A.      Draft resolution to be recommended by the Council for adoption by the General Assembly...

 

3

 

 

 

                          B.       Draft decision for adoption by the Council...........................................................................

 

5

 

 

 

                  II.     Preparations for the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”.........................................................

 

 

7

 

 

 

                 III.     Provisional agenda for the third session of the Commission on the Status of Women acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly..........................................

 

 

11

 

 

 

                 IV.     Adoption of the report of the Commission acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly...................................................................................................

 

 

12

 

 

 

                  V.     Organizational matters...................................................................................................................

 

13

 

 

 

                          A.      Opening and duration of the session....................................................................................

 

13

 

 

 

                          B.       Attendance.........................................................................................................................

 

13

 

 

 

                          C.      Officers..............................................................................................................................

 

14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

                          D.      Agenda and organization of work........................................................................................

 

14

 

 

 

                          E.       Documentation....................................................................................................................

 

14

 

 

 



Chapter I

 

                  Matters calling for action by the Economic and Social Council

 

 

             A.    Draft resolution to be recommended by the Council for adoption by the General Assembly

 

 

1.       The Commission on the Status of Women, acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”, recommends to the Economic and Social Council the approval of the following draft resolution for adoption by the General Assembly:

 

 

Preparations for the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”*

 

The Economic and Social Council,

 

Recommends to the General Assembly the adoption of the following resolution:

 

The General Assembly,

 

Recalling its resolutions 52/100, 52/231 and 53/120, and Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/6,

 

Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General on review and appraisal1 and on further actions and initiatives,2

 

Taking note with appreciation of the report3 of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on progress in the implementation of the Platform for Action4 by the States Parties to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women,5

 

“1.      Reiterates its invitation to Governments that have not yet done so to prepare national action plans and reports on the implementation of the Platform for Action, and underlines the importance of involving relevant actors of civil society especially non-governmental organizations;

 

“2.      Invites Member States, in preparing implementation plans and reports and responding to the questionnaire of the Secretary-General, to report on good practices, positive actions, lessons learned, the use of qualitative and quantitative indicators for measuring progress, wherever possible, key challenges remaining in the critical areas of concern of the Platform for Action and obstacles encountered;

 


“3.      Encourages all the regional commissions and other intergovernmental regional organizations to carry out activities in support of the preparations for the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”, inter alia, through holding preparatory meetings, to ensure a regional perspective on implementation and on further actions and initiatives, as well as on a vision for gender equality, development and peace in the twenty-first century, and to make their reports available in the year 2000 to the Commission on the Status of Women acting as preparatory committee;

 

“4.      Encourages all entities of the United Nations system, including the specialized agencies, funds and programmes and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, to be involved actively in preparatory activities and to participate at the highest level in the special session, including through presentations on best practices, obstacles encountered and a vision for the future to accelerate implementation of the Platform for Action and address new and emerging trends;

 

“5.      Decides that the special session shall have a plenary and an ad hoc committee of the whole;

 

“6.      Reaffirms that the special session will be undertaken on the basis of and with full respect for the Platform for Action, and that there will be no renegotiation of the existing agreements contained therein;

 

“7.      Decides that the provisional agenda shall include the following items:

 

(a)      Review and appraisal of progress made in the implementation of the 12 critical areas of concern in the Beijing Platform for Action;

 

(b)      Further actions and initiatives for overcoming obstacles to implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action;

 

“8.      Requests the Secretary-General to prepare, in time for the next session of the Preparatory Committee in the year 2000, comprehensive reports on progress in the implementation of the Platform for Action nationally, regionally and internationally, taking into account all relevant information and inputs available to the United Nations system, on the following:

 

(a)      A review and appraisal of the implementation of the Platform for Action based on, inter alia, national action plans, reports of the States parties to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women under article 18 of the Convention, replies of Member States to the questionnaire, statements made by delegations at relevant forums of the United Nations, reports of regional commissions and other entities of the United Nations system and follow-up to recent global United Nations conferences;

 

(b)      Good practices, positive actions, lessons learned, examples of the use of any qualitative and quantitative indicators for measuring progress, successful strategies and promising initiatives for the implementation of the Platform for Action;

 

(c)      Obstacles encountered and strategies for overcoming them;

 

(d)      Further actions and initiatives, within the overall goals of gender equality, development and peace, to accelerate implementation of the 12 critical areas of concern of the Platform for Action beyond the year 2000, recognizing the need for analytical tools and strategies for implementation, taking into account inputs, as well as comments of Member States to the Secretary-General’s report on further actions and initiatives; and in this regard invites Member States to provide inputs and comments thereon;

 


“9.      Requests the Secretary-General to make available all necessary documentation in a timely manner for the special session, keeping in mind General Assembly resolutions 52/231 and 53/120;

 

“10.    Encourages the United Nations system to continue to hold discussions with relevant actors of civil society, especially non-governmental organizations, in the exchange of views for the review and appraisal process on the implementation of the Platform for Action, including, wherever available, the use of electronic networking;

 

“11.    Urges Member States and observers to ensure their representation at the special session at a high political level;

 

“12.    Confirms that the special session will be open to the participation of all States Members of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies and observers, in accordance with the established practice of the General Assembly;6

 

“13.    Calls for the participation of associate members of regional economic commissions in the special session, subject to the rules of procedure of the General Assembly, and in the preparatory process thereof, in the same capacity of observer that held for their participation in the Fourth World Conference on Women;

 

“14.    Encourages Member States to include relevant actors of civil society, especially non-governmental organizations and representatives of women’s organizations, in their national preparatory processes as well as in their delegations to the Preparatory Committee and the special session;

 

“15.    Emphasizes the important role of non-governmental organizations in implementing the Platform for Action and the need for their active involvement in the preparations for the special session, as well as the need to ensure appropriate arrangements for their contributions to the special session;

 

“16.    Decides that non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, as well as the non-governmental organizations that were accredited to the Fourth World Conference on Women, may participate in the special session without creating a precedent for future sessions of the General Assembly;6

 

“17.    Decides to defer consideration of all the modalities for participation of non-governmental organizations in the special session until the next session of the Preparatory Committee;

 

“18.    Invites the Bureau of the Commission on the Status of Women acting as preparatory committee to convene informal open-ended consultations, as appropriate, to consider preparations for the special session;

 

“19.    Recommends that the major share of the three-week forty-fourth session of the Commission on the Status of Women in March 2000 be allocated to the Commission acting as preparatory committee.”

 

 

 

             B.    Draft decision for adoption by the Council

 

 


2.       The Commission on the Status of Women, acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”, recommends to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of the following draft decision:

 

 

Report of the Commission on the Status of Women acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” on its second session and provisional agenda and documentation for the third session of the Preparatory Committee

 

The Economic and Social Council:

 

(a)      Takes note of the report of the Commission on the Status of Women acting as the Preparatory Committee for the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” on its second session;

 

(b)      Approves the provisional agenda and documentation for the third session of the Preparatory Committee set out below.

 

 

 

Provisional agenda and documentation for the third session of the Commission on the Status of Women acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”

 

 

1.       Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.

 

2.       Preparations for the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”.

 

 

Documentation

 

Report on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action on the basis of national reports, taking into account the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women (Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/6, sect. III, para. 5 (f))

 

Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women, 1996–2001

 

Comparative report of the Secretary-General on how different categories of projects and programmes of United Nations organizations are including women’s interests and gender mainstreaming issues and on resources allocated in this regard (General Assembly resolution 52/231, para. 14)

 

Report on emerging issues containing additional material on further actions and initiatives for the preparation of the outlook beyond the year 2000 (General Assembly resolution 52/231, para. 11)

 

3.       Adoption of the report of the Commission acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly.


 

 

Chapter II

 

Preparations for the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”

 

 

1.       The Preparatory Committee considered item 2 of its agenda from its 2nd to 5th meetings, on 15, 16, 18 and 19 March 1999.7 It had before it the following documents:

 

(a)      Report of the Secretary-General on a framework for further actions and initiatives that might be considered during the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” (E/CN.6/1999/PC/2);

 

(b)      Report of the Secretary-General on initiation of the comprehensive review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (E/CN.6/1999/PC/3);

 

(c)      Note by the Secretariat on progress in the implementation of the Platform for Action based on the review of reports to the Commission on the Status of Women of States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (E/CN.6/1999/PC/4).

 

2.       At its 2nd and 3rd meetings, on 15 and 16 March, the Preparatory Committee held a panel discussion and dialogue under item 2.

 

3.       At its 2nd meeting, the Preparatory Committee heard presentations by the following panel of experts: Patricia Licuanan, President of Miriam College and Professor of Psychology, Ateneo de Manila University; Mihaly Simai, Research Professor, Institute for World Economics, Hungarian Academy of Sciences; Asthma Jahangir, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; and Hassan Keynan, researcher, Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research.

 

4.       At its 3rd meeting, the Preparatory Committee heard presentations by the following panel of experts: Laura Balbo, Minister for Equal Opportunities, Italy; Magalys Arocha Domínguez, National Secretariat, Federation of Cuban Women Responsible for International Affairs; Diane Elson, Special Adviser to the Executive Director, United Nations Development Fund for Women; and Nirmaladevi Nababsing, Ministry of Women, Family Welfare and Child Development, Mauritius.

 

5.       At its 4th meeting, on 18 March, the Preparatory Committee heard statements by the observers for the following non-governmental organizations: International Women Count Network; World Blind Union (also on behalf of Disabled People’s International); Indigenous Women’s caucus; South-North Women of Colour caucus; African non-governmental organization caucus.

 

6.       At its 5th meeting, on 19 March, the Preparatory Committee agreed to include in its report the following summary of the general debate held by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-third session on agenda item 4 of that session, which related to agenda item 2 of the Preparatory Committee:

 

 


Summary of the general debate by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-third session on agenda item 4, “Initiation of the comprehensive review and appraisal of the implementation of the Platform for Action and preparation for the special session of the General Assembly in the year 2000”

 

1.       During the general debate, 21 member States as well as Guyana, on behalf of the Group of 77, and Germany, on behalf of the European Union and Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus and Liechtenstein, addressed agenda item 4, making suggestions related to the special session of the General Assembly to review progress in implementing the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and the Beijing Platform for Action.

 

2.       Delegations affirmed their commitment to taking an active part in the preparations for the special session. It was emphasized that the purpose of the special session was not to renegotiate the results of the Fourth World Conference on Women but to chart an informed, action-oriented plan for advancing the goals of the Beijing Platform for Action. One delegation expressed the view that no new issues or concepts should be introduced that might reopen what had been decided at Beijing. Some delegations suggested that cross-cutting themes should be identified. One delegation noted that the cross-cutting themes proposed by the Secretary-General in his report on further actions and initiatives (E/CN.6/1999/PC/2) deserved attention. Two delegations proposed that the review focus on empowerment of women and mainstreaming of a gender perspective at all levels as the framework for the special session. It had been noted, with respect to the routine empowerment of women in political, economic, social and other fields, that this made strong societies in times of peace and mitigated automatic gender abuse in times of civil disruption.

 

3.       It was proposed that the special session review progress made and obstacles encountered in the implementation of all 12 critical areas of concern of the Platform for Action in a comprehensive and holistic manner in order to accelerate implementation. Assessments should identify good practices and lessons learned during implementation, as well as obstacles encountered and addressed. The special session should also identify effective strategies for overcoming obstacles to implementation, as well as further action and initiatives required for implementation. It was suggested that strategies to promote measurable implementation might be grouped into three categories:

 

                                              (a)      Translating political will into action through innovative approaches and allocation of resources;

 

                                              (b)      Building institutional capacity for the empowerment of women, gender equality and gender inclusiveness at the individual and institutional levels;

 

                                              (c)      Engaging civil society and building partnerships among all groups of the population, including partnership and mutual respect between men and women.

 

4.       It was also stressed that where there is poverty and scarcity of resources and where information and communication technology is backward, women feel the brunt of the shortfall. Strategies to promote even levels of development between countries by minimizing the widening gap between rich and poor nations and between rich and poor people were important. Disparities between developed and developing countries should not, however, be a factor inhibiting their collaboration and cooperation in achieving the goals of gender equality.

 


5.       One delegation stated that the five cross-cutting functional areas emphasized in the report of the Secretary-General on further actions and initiatives, namely, political will, capacity-building, accountability and monitoring, cooperation and partnership, and assistance to women and girls currently subject to discrimination and disadvantage, provided an appropriate framework for identifying further actions and initiatives to fulfil commitments made at the Beijing Conference. With respect to the fifth area, there was a need to focus on both strategies to prevent gender discrimination and strategies to protect those subject to discrimination.

                    

6.       Some delegations proposed that both the review and appraisal and further actions and initiatives regarding the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action should be based on mechanisms for measuring qualitative progress in the implementation of women’s enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms. It was suggested that benchmarks were needed and that a voluntary benchmarking regime, both qualitative and quantitative, should be developed as a baseline against which progress could be measured. Such a regime could then serve as a tool for the Commission’s work during the period 2001–2005.

 

7.       It was stressed that the review should be based on all available sources of information. Several delegations emphasized the importance for the five-year review of the agreed conclusions and resolutions adopted since 1995 by the Commission on the Status of Women on the 12 critical areas of concern of the Beijing Platform for Action. Others suggested drawing on national action plans, responses to the Secretary-General’s questionnaire, relevant thematic reports, and reports of States Parties submitted to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. One delegation proposed that consultations be organized inter-sessionally to ensure effective preparations for the special session.

 

8.       A number of delegations stressed the need for active participation of civil society and involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the preparations for the special session, as well as the need to ensure appropriate arrangements for their contributions to the special session. Active dialogue between NGOs and Governments was also advocated, both at the national and international levels, and it was suggested that Governments include NGOs in their official delegations to the special session. It was pointed out, however, that the primary responsibility for implementing the Beijing Platform for Action rested with Governments, and that political will and commitment at the national and international levels played a critical role in creating the enabling environment necessary for equal treatment and gender mainstreaming.

 

9.       Several delegations emphasized that the outcome of the special session should not be an “academic” exercise. It should be concrete, action-oriented and operational. Several delegations proposed the adoption of a short political declaration to reaffirm the commitments made at Beijing. Strategies to overcome the obstacles encountered in implementation and to identify further actions and initiatives needed for the twenty-first century should be formulated in a short and concise manner and should be attached to the declaration. Some delegations expressed the view that the special session would be an opportunity to look at the future role of the Commission on the Status of Women, including its new long-term programme of work and its working methods.

 


10.     During the discussion, a number of specific issues were identified as constituting challenges for the future or as constituting new developments since 1995. Concern was expressed that progress in implementing the Platform was being hindered by economic and political developments, both globally and nationally. The creation and/or sustaining of an environment conducive to gender equality and the full enjoyment of human rights by all was identified as an emerging challenge. This included globalization and modernization in its many aspects. Many delegates called for re-examining globalization beyond its economic dimensions in order to understand it as a diverse phenomenon that influenced many aspects of women’s lives and that might leave women and girls increasingly vulnerable as a result of cutbacks in social services and in the role of the State. Another challenge identified was the implications for women of the ageing of the population. Many endorsed a life-cycle approach to policy and programming. A number of delegations considered the question of partnership between men and women to be a challenge that needed to be addressed, and called for strategies to promote gender relations based on equality, mutual respect and sharing of responsibilities.

 

11.     The need for a strategy to confront various forms of religious fundamentalism that might affect women’s enjoyment of their human rights was noted. The importance of a concerted effort to identify obstacles and take action to promote women’s leadership role in politics and in all other spheres was also noted. One delegation drew attention to new scientific developments in methods of medically assisted procreation that raised possible questions of protection from potential abuses in the fields of genetic science and research, and had implications for human rights in general and women’s rights in particular. Others noted that broader access by women to science and new technologies, including the related employment implications, was an issue to be addressed.

 

12.     Delegates also provided information during the debate on priorities for action to implement the Platform identified at the country level and on policies and programmes put in place to address those priorities. In most cases, the priorities were reflected in their national action plans to implement the Beijing Platform for Action. That information would be valuable as an input into the review and appraisal, which would be presented to the Commission in 2000. A number of delegates addressed the critical areas of women and health and institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women. That aspect of the general debate would be reflected in the summaries on those two critical areas since those critical areas had been addressed in detail during the current session.

 

 

Action taken by the Commission acting as Preparatory Committee

 

7.       At its 5th meeting, on 19 March, the Preparatory Committee had before it the text of a draft resolution entitled “Preparations for the special session of the General Assembly entitled ‘Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century’” (E/CN.6/1999/PC/L.2), submitted by the Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee. The Preparatory Committee also had before it an informal text containing revisions to the draft resolution.

 

8.       The Preparatory Committee was advised that the draft resolution, as revised, contained no programme budget implications.

 

9.       At the same meeting, following statements by the representatives of Algeria, Kenya, Nigeria, Turkey, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica and China, the Preparatory Committee recommended the adoption of the draft resolution, as revised, by the General Assembly through the Economic and Social Council (see chap. I, section A).


 

 

Chapter III

 

Provisional agenda for the third session of the Commission on the Status of Women acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly

 

 

1.       The Preparatory Committee considered item 3 of its agenda at its 5th meeting, on 19 March 1999. It had before it a note by the Secretariat containing the draft provisional agenda and documentation for its third session (E/CN.6/1999/PC/L.3).

 

2.       At the same meeting, the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women made a statement.

 

3.       The Preparatory Committee then recommended to the Economic and Social Council the approval of the provisional agenda and documentation for its third session (see chap. I, sect. B).


 

 

Chapter IV

 

Adoption of the report of the Commission acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly

 

 

At its 5th meeting, on 19 March 1999, following statements by the representative of Algeria and the Secretary, the Preparatory Committee adopted its draft report, as contained in document E/CN.6/1999/PC/L.1, and entrusted the Bureau with its completion.

 


Chapter V

 

Organizational matters

 

 

             A.    Opening and duration of the session

 

 

1.       The Preparatory Committee held its second session at United Nations Headquarters from 15 to 19 March 1999. The Preparatory Committee held 5 meetings (1st to 5th) and a number of informal meetings.

 

2.       The session was opened by the Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women, Patricia Flor (Germany), who also made a statement.

 

3.       At the 1st meeting, on 15 March, the Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee made a statement. At the same meeting, the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women made an introductory statement.

 

 

 

             B.    Attendance

 

 

4.       As decided by the General Assembly in its resolution 52/100, the deliberations of the Commission acting as preparatory committee were open to the participation of all States Members of the United Nations, members of the specialized agencies and observers, in accordance with the established practice of the General Assembly.

 

                          5.       The following States were represented: Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil,  Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, United States of America, Viet Nam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

 

                          6.       Palestine, an entity maintaining a permanent observer mission to the United Nations, was also represented.

 

                          7.       The following United Nations bodies were represented: Economic Commission for Africa and Joint and Co-sponsored United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

 

                          8.       The following specialized agencies were represented: International Labour Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

 


                          9.       The following intergovernmental organizations were represented by observers: Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee, Council of Europe, European Community, International Organization for Migration, Organization of American States and Organization of the Islamic Conference.

 

                          10.     In accordance with Economic and Social Council decision 1998/301, non-governmental organizations that either are in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council or had been accredited to the Fourth World Conference on Women also attended the session.

 

 

 

             C.    Officers

 

 

11.     At its 1st meeting, on 15 March 1999, the Preparatory Committee elected the following officers by acclamation:

 

Chairperson:                   Irma Engelbrecht (South Africa)

 

Vice-Chairpersons:          Patricia Flor (Germany)

                                                                            Christine Kapalata (United Republic of Tanzania)

                                                                            Sonia R. Leonce-Carryl (Saint Lucia)

                                                                            Mónica Martínez (Ecuador)

                                                                            Kirsten Mla_ak (Canada)

                                                                            Rasa Ostrauskait_ (Lithuania)

                                                                            Dubravka Šimonovi_ (Croatia)

 

12.     The Preparatory Committee postponed the election of two additional Vice-Chairpersons to its next session. At its 5th meeting, on 19 March, the Preparatory Committee approved the attendance at its Bureau meetings of two members to be designated by the Asian group of States, pending election of the two additional members to the Bureau.

 

 

 

             D.    Agenda and organization of work       

 

 

13.     At its 1st meeting, on 15 March, the Preparatory Committee adopted its provisional agenda and approved its proposed organization of work as contained in document E/CN.6/1999/PC/1. The agenda was as follows:

 

1.       Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.

 

2.       Preparations for the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”.

 

3.       Provisional agenda for the third session of the Commission acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly.

 

4.       Adoption of the report of the Commission acting as the preparatory committee for the special session of the General Assembly.

 

 

 

             E.    Documentation

 

 

14.     The Commission acting as preparatory committee had before it the following documents:

 

                                    (a)      Provisional agenda (E/CN.6/1999/PC/1);

 


                                    (b)      Report of the Secretary-General on a framework for further actions and initiatives that might be considered during the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” (E/CN.6/1999/PC/2);

 

                                    (c)      Report of the Secretary-General on initiation of the comprehensive review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action (E/CN.6/1999/PC/3);

 

                                    (d)      Note by the Secretariat on progress in the implementation of the Platform for Action based on the review of reports to the Commission on the Status of Women of States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (E/CN.6/1999/PC/4);

 

                                    (e)      Draft report (E/CN.6/1999/PC/L.1);

 

                                    (f)       Draft resolution submitted by the Chairperson of the Preparatory Committee, entitled “Preparations for the special session of the General Assembly entitled ‘Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century’” (E/CN.6/1999/PC/L.2);

 

                                    (g)      Draft provisional agenda and documentation for the third session of the Commission acting as preparatory committee (E/CN.6/1999/PC/L.3);

 

                                    (h)      Note by the Secretariat containing a summary of the general debate by the Commission on the Status of Women on agenda item 4 (E/CN.6/1999/PC/CRP.1).

 

 

 



                        * For the discussion see chap. II.

                        4 Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4–15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. 96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.

                        5 General Assembly resolution 34/180, annex.

                        6 See Assembly resolution 52/100, para. 46.

                        7 See also Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1999, Supplement No. 7 (E/1999/27), chaps. II and III.