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Commission on the Status of Women

Background

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was established as a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council by Council resolution 11(II) of 21 June 1946 to prepare recommendations and reports to the Council on promoting women's rights in political, economic, civil, social and educational fields.
The Commission also makes recommendations to the Council on urgent problems requiring immediate attention in the field of women's rights.

The object of the Commission is to promote implementation of the principle that men and women shall have equal rights. The Commission's mandate was expanded in 1987 by the Council in its resolution 1987/22.

Following the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, 1995, the General Assembly mandated the Commission to integrate into its work programme a follow-up process to the Conference, in which the Commission should play a catalytic role, regularly reviewing the critical areas of concern in the Platform for Action.

CSW Work Programme

1997
Education and training of women
Women and the economy
Women in power and decision-making
Women and the environment

1998
Violence against women
Women and armed conflict
Human rights of women
The girl child

1999
Women and health
Institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women
Initiation of the comprehensive review and appraisal of the
implementation of the Platform for Action

2000
Comprehensive quinquennial review and appraisal of the
implementation of the Platform for Action
Emerging issues

Membership and Secretariat

The Commission, which began with 15 members, now consists of 45 members elected by the Economic and Social Council for a period of four years. Members, who are appointed by Governments, are elected on the following basis: thirteen from African states; eleven from Asian states; four from Eastern European states; nine from Latin American and Caribbean states; and eight from Western European and Other states. The Commission meets normally on an annual basis for a period of eight working days.

The CSW - as well as CEDAW - are housed by the Division for the Advancement of Women. The Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) is part of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) of the United Nations Secretariat. The Division is a catalyst for advancing the global agenda on women's issues and for mainstreaming a gender perspective in all sectors. It works closely with governments, its partners in the United Nations system and civil society. The Division has three broad functions: analysis of gender issues; promotion of women's human rights; and co-ordination and outreach.

United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women
2 UN Plaza, DC2-12th Floor
New York, NY 10017
USA
Fax +1-212-963-3463
Home Location http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw
E-mail address: daw@un.org