Status of Women consists of two parts. The regular meeting of CSW held from 28 February completed on 2 March 2000. Following information was shared at the NGO Briefing.

The session began with a vote for a new Bureau. The new Chair is Dubravka Simonovic (Croatia). The new Vice-Chairs are Kirsten Geelan (Denmark), Misako Kaji (Japan), Loreto Leyton (Chile) and Mankeur Ndiaye (Senegal). After the agenda and organization of work were approved, Angela King, Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Gender Issues gave a statement which noted both progress and deterioration in the advancement of women. In particular, she noted that the issue of resources remains critical in addressing the challenge of continuity and stability for the process of gender mainstreaming, particularly within the United Nations itself. Ms. Yakin Erturk, Director of the UN Division for the Advancement of Women followed, with an explanation of the documentation for the session.

General themes that emerged from Governments

Following Ms. Erturk, and through the end of the following day, delegations presented statements related to the advancement of women and follow up to the Fourth World Conference on Women. Many delegations, UN agencies and some NGOs spoke. While a wide variety of achievement and obstacles were noted, some general themes emerged.

These included:

A strong affirmation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action as a fundamental document underpinning and guiding governments’ and the international community’s efforts to ensure gender equality.

• In addition, many mentioned their disappointment that the call for universal ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) by the year 2000 (as called for in the Platform for Action) had not been met, and stressed the need for renewed efforts to reach universal ratification. Many also welcomed the Optional Protocol to CEDAW and urged for the ratification and accession by governments to allow its early entry into force; as well as the inclusion of sexual violence as a crime in the statute for the new International Criminal Court.
• In discussing the implementation of the Platform, many obstacles were noted. At the same time, some delegations stressed that these obstacles are not insurmountable, but require consistent and, in some cases, increased political will.
• Delegations reported on new laws they have adopted, inspired by the Platform for Action. In many cases, these laws constitute a framework for achieving gender equal societies.
• Frequently noted obstacles included: the HIV/AIDS pandemic and the need for a deeper and more systematic understanding of the gender-differentiated impacts of HIV/AIDS; the need for more resources to support implementation, particularly for national machineries for the advancement of women; the uneven and gender-differentiated impact of globalization, which, as a number of delegations noted, has in some cases deepened women’s poverty; the devastating consequences of armed conflict and internal displacement. Many delegations also emphasized increased recognition of the extent and consequences of violence against women, while also noting the increased efforts to address it.
• Many delegations called for targets on gender to ensure stronger implementation of commitments. At the national level, a number of delegations reported on the impact of affirmative action and other special measures put in place to assist in the process of building gender equality and ending discrimination.
• Some delegations also welcomed new information and communications technologies, while noting that the gains of these technologies are, in some cases, accompanied by new forms of exclusion.
• In looking toward the future of the CSW itself, a number of delegations noted that the five-year review of the Platform for Action might also include a review of the Commission itself, including its functioning and mandate, bearing in mind the need for integrated and coordinated follow up to major UN world conferences and summits of the 1990s.

Common themes put forward by NGOs

A number of NGOs also spoke. Common themes included:

• The importance of looking at the negative consequences of globalization on women and the urgent need for adequate responses;
• A call for more concerted political will, including through the commitment of resources for the implementation of the Platform for Action, and the protection of women’s human rights;
• Greater attention to particular issues of the girl-child and adolescent women, including their sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Panel on Emerging Issues

On 1 March, the morning session began with a panel on Emerging Issues, trends and new approaches to issues affecting women of equality between men and women. Panelists included: Ms. Dominique Meda, Inspector a l’Inspection General des Affairs Sociales, Paris, France. Ms. Meda spoke about "Women and work including the emergence of new forms of work and employment and reconciliation of family and work responsibilities; Maitre Mame Bassine Niang, Ministere de la Famille, de l’Action Sociale et de Solidarite Nationale, Dakar,

Senegal, who spoke about "Life cycle and access to resrouces including inheritance." Ms. Charlotte Abaka, Member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, followed with a discussion about "Challenges to the implementation of the Convention." Next, Ms. Gillian Marcelle, Chairperson of the African Information Society Gender Working Group spoke on "Gender Justice and technology." Ms. Madhu Bala Nath, UNAIDS/UNIFEM Gender and HIV/AIDS Advisor spoke about "Women living with HIV/AIDS."

Discussion followed the panel with comments by both government delegations and NGOs. NGOs stressed that the work of NGOs on these matters is critical. In addition, the NGO Youth Caucus drew attention to the importance (and indeed historic) of their presence at the meeting.

Four Resolutions Adopted

Finally, during the CSW session, four resolutions were adopted. These were:

• E/CN.6/2000/L.2 - Release of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflict (adopted without amendments);
• E/CN.6/2000/L.3 - Situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, which was adopted with slight oral revisions. (The adoption of this resolution in 1999 marked one of the few times that the CSW has adopted a country-specific amendment.)
• E/CN.6/2000/L.5 - Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women. This was brought to a vote. 35 voted in favor, and one voted against.
• E/CN.6/2000/L.6 - Women, the girl-child and HIV/AIDS (adopted with minor revisions.)

The CSW also adopted a draft provisional agenda for the 45^th (year 2001) session. Thematic issues to be addressed include:

• Women, the girl child and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS);
• Gender and multiple forms of discrimination, in particular issues related to racial and ethnic discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and discrimination based on age and disability. (There will be a UN world conference against discrimination also held in 2001)

The process and preparation for 2^nd and the 3^rd Week (PrepCom)

Finally, while these issues were addressed by the CSW, much of the action took place in the hallways and missions, as government delegations, government negotiating groups (the Group of 77 and China, the European Union and JUS-CANZ), and NGO thematic and regional caucuses met to determine their priorities and editorial comments to E/CN.6/2000/PC/L.1/Rev.1 – Further Actions and Initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The first revision contains line-by-line recommendations by delegations and negotiating groups for sections 1-3.

For information on the Governmental process, look out for "Earth Negotiations Bulletin" which will cover official negotiations on a daily basis.