The Commission on the Status of Women 36th Session took place in Vienna, 11-20 March
1992
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Contents
I.
Matters Calling for Action by the Economic and Social Council or brought to its attention
A. Draft resolutions
I. Improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat
II. Women and children under apartheid
III. Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women
IV. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women
V. Violence against women in all its forms
VI. Communications on the status of women
VII. Advancement of women and human rights
B. Draft decisions
I. Report of the Commission on the Status of Women on its
thirty-sixth session and provisional agenda and documentation for the thirty-seventh
session of the Commission
II. Request for additional conference facilities during the
thirty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women
C.
Resolutions of the Commission brought to the attention of the Council
36/1. Advancement of
women and the family
36/2.
Inclusion of the question of women in the agendas of forthcoming international meetings
36/3. Women in
decision-making bodies
36/4.
Integration of elderly women into development
36/5. Women and development
36/6. Women and the environment
36/7.
Advancement of women and acts of terrorism against women
36/8.
Preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development
and Peace
II.
Programming and Coordination Matters Related to the United Nations and the United Nations
System
III.
Monitoring the Implementation of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women
IV. Priority Themes
A.
Equality: Elimination of de jure and de facto discrimination against women
B. Development
1. Integration of women
in the process of development
2. Women and the environment
C.
Peace: Equal participation in all efforts to promote international cooperation, peace and
disarmament
V.
Preparations fo the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and
Peace
VI.
Provisional Agenda for the 37th Session of the Commission
VII.
Adoption of the Report of the Commission on its 36th Session

1. The Commission on the Status of Women recommends to the Economic and Social Council
the adoption of the following draft resolutions:
Improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat*
* For the discussion, see chap. II.
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling Articles 8 and 101 of the Charter of the United/Nations, and recalling also
the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women,/1/ in particular
paragraphs 79, 306, 315, 356 and 358, in which importance is attached to the appointment
of women in the Secretariat at senior decision-making and managerial levels,
Recalling also the relevant resolutions and decisions of the General Assembly, the
Economic and Social Council and other bodies that have been adopted since Assembly
resolution 2715 (XXV) of 15 December 1970, in which the question of the employment of
women in the Professional category was first addressed,
Noting with concern that the goal of a 30 per cent participation rate of women in posts
subject to geographical distribution by the end of 1990 had not been achieved by the end
of 1991,
Bearing in mind the goal of achieving by 1995 an overall participation rate of women of
35 per cent of all posts subject to geographical distribution, set by the General Assembly
in resolutions 45/125 of 14/December/1990 and 45/239 C of 21/December 1990, and a
participation rate of women in posts at the D-1 level and above, set by the Assembly in
resolution 45/239 C, at 25 per cent of the total within the overall participation rate of
women of 35 per cent in posts subject to geographical distribution,
Also bearing in mind that a visible commitment of the Secretary-General is essential to
the achievement of the targets set by the General Assembly of an overall participation
rate of women of 35 per cent, and, at the D-1 level and above, of 25 per cent by 1995,
Welcoming the progress report of the Secretary-General concerning the comprehensive
study of the barriers to the advancement of women and elements of the action programme for
the advancement of women in the Secretariat for the period 1991-1995,/2/
1. Strongly urges the Secretary-General to increase the number of women in posts
subject to geographical distribution, particularly in senior policy-level and
decision-making posts, in order to achieve an overall participation rate of 35/per/cent by
1995, and a goal of 25/per/cent of the total within the overall participation rate of 35
per cent in posts at the D-1 level and above, taking into consideration the need to
increase the representation of women from countries with a low or no representation of
women, especially from the developing countries;
2. Urges the Secretary-General to appoint women to senior policy-level and
decision-making posts in his next appointments, and to achieve the targets set for the
Secretariat by 1995;
3. Urges the Secretary-General to ensure that achievement of these goals will not be
impeded by the temporary suspension of regular recruitment imposed in the context of the
current restructuring;
4. Calls upon all Member States to contribute fully to increasing the participation
rate of women in the Professional category and above throughout the United Nations system
by, inter alia, nominating more women candidates, especially for senior policy-level and
decision-making posts: encouraging women to apply for vacant posts and by creating
national rosters of women candidates to be shared with the Secretariat and the executive
bodies of the specialized agencies and related organizations, taking into consideration
the need to increase the representation of women from countries with a low or no
representation of women, especially from the developing countries;
5. Recommends that all organizations of the United Nations system accord priority to
increasing the numbers of women in Professional and senior policy-level and
decision-making posts to achieve the same targets set for the Secretariat by 1995;
6. Welcomes the decision of the Secretary-General to regularize the post of Focal Point
in the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Resources Management, as well
as the establishment of an additional General Service post to assist her;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the findings of the comprehensive
study of the barriers to the advancement of women and a full action programme for the
advancement of women in the Secretariat for the period 1991-1995 are submitted to the
General Assembly at its forty-seventh session;
8. Further requests the Secretary-General to ensure that his annual report on the
status of women in the Secretariat includes strategies and modalities for implementing the
action programme and the relevant mandates adopted by the General Assembly and the
Economic and Social Council, and to submit the report to the Commission on the Status of
Women at its thirty-seventh session and to the General Assembly at its forty-seventh
session, as well as to those bodies that have administrative, budgetary and personnel
responsibilities for the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat.
Women and children under apartheid*
* For the discussion, see chap. III.
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling its resolution 1991/20 of 30 May 1991,
Reaffirming the provisions of the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive
Consequences in Southern Africa, contained in the annex to General Assembly
resolution/S-16/1 of 14/December/1989,
Recalling General Assembly resolution/46/79 of 13/December/1991,
Alarmed by the grave socio-economic deprivation to which the majority of the people,
especially the women and children, are subjected as a direct consequence of apartheid,
Deeply concerned about the alleged State complicity in politically motivated violence
that has to date claimed thousands of lives and has left hundreds of thousands homeless,
the majority of whom are women and children,
Noting the positive changes initiated by the South African authorities aimed at
dismantling apartheid, which were the result of the relentless struggle waged by the
people of South Africa as well as the pressure exerted by the international community,
Noting with satisfaction the signing of the National Peace Accord in September/1991 and
the convening of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa in December/1991, and
expressing the hope that this will constitute a major contribution towards the final
ending of violence in South/Africa,
Welcoming the holding of the Convention for a Democratic South/Africa as an attempt to
resolve the problems of South Africa by peaceful means as envisaged in the Declaration on
Apartheid,
Recognizing that the equality of women and men cannot be achieved without the success
of the struggle towards a united, non-racist, non-sexist and democratic South Africa,
Aware of the attention given by the United/Nations and particularly its Centre against
Apartheid and the Division for the Advancement of Women to the issue of assisting South
African women to participate fully in the process of establishing a non-racist democracy
in their country,
1. Commends those women both inside and outside South Africa who have resisted
oppression and have remained steadfast in their opposition to apartheid;
2. Demands the immediate unconditional release of all political prisoners and
detainees, among whom are women and children, in accordance with the undertaking of the
South African authorities;
3. Urges those involved in the Convention for a Democratic South/Africa to place high
on their agenda issues concerning women such as freedom, justice and equality, development
and the environment;
4. Also urges the South African authorities to ratify the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, adopted by the General Assembly in its
resolution/34/180, annex, of 18/December/1979, at the earliest possible opportunity;
5. Appeals to all countries and United/Nations bodies, in conformity with General
Assembly resolution/46/79 and in consultation with liberation movements, to increase their
support for educational, health, vocational training and employment opportunities for
women and children under apartheid;
6. Requests the Centre against Apartheid to widen and strengthen its cooperation with
the Division for the Advancement of Women, with a view to creating specific programmes of
assistance to South African women to participate fully in the process of transition of
their country towards a non-racist democracy;
7. Appeals to the international community to give its full and concerted support to the
vulnerable and critical process now under way in South Africa through a phased application
of appropriate pressures on the South African authorities as warranted by developments,
and to provide assistance to the opponents of apartheid and the disadvantaged sectors of
society in order to ensure the rapid and peaceful attainment of the objectives of the
Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa;
8. Decides to remain seized of the issue of women and children living under apartheid;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the
present resolution to the Commission on the Status of Women at its thirty-seventh session.
Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women*
* For the discussion, see chap. III.
The Economic and Social Council,
Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General/3/ and the notes by the
Secretary-General/4/ concerning the situation of Palestinian women living inside and
outside the occupied Palestinian territory,
Recalling the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women,/5/ in
particular paragraph 260 thereof,
Recalling also its resolutions 1988/25 of 26 May 1988, 1989/34 of 24/May/1989, 1990/11
of 24/May 1990 and 1991/19 of 30/May 1991,
Deeply alarmed by the deteriorating condition of Palestinian women and children in the
occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, as a result of the continued Israeli
violation of Palestinian human rights and oppressive measures, including collective
punishments, curfews, demolition of houses, closure of schools and universities,
deportation, confiscation of land and settlement activities, which are illegal, and
controversies over the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention relevant to the
Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949,/6/
1. Reaffirms that the basic improvement of the living conditions of the Palestinian
women, their advancement, full equality and self-reliance, can only be achieved by an end
to the Israeli occupation and the attainment of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian
people;
2. Demands that Israel, the occupying power, accept the de jure applicability of the
Geneva Convention relevant to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12
August 1949, to the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, and to respect
the Convention provisions;
3. Also demands an end to the Israeli violation of human rights in the occupied
Palestinian territory, including an immediate halt to the Israeli settlement activities
that have harmful effects on Palestinian women and their families;
4. Calls upon governmental, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations,
including organizations of the United Nations system, to assist Palestinian women in the
occupied Palestinian territory in developing small-scale industry and creating vocational
training and legal consultation centres;
5. Requests the Commission on the Status of Women to monitor the implementation of the
Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, in particular paragraph
260 concerning assistance to Palestinian women;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to continue his efforts in monitoring the
implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the mission of experts to
Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic to investigate the condition of Palestinian women and
children/7/ in order to improve the condition of Palestinian women and children;
7. Also requests the Secretary-General to review the situation of Palestinian women and
children in the occupied Palestinian territory and in the refugee camps, and to submit a
report to the Commission on the Status of Women at its thirty-seventh session, using all
available sources.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women*
* For the discussion, see chap. III.
The Economic and Social Council,
Welcoming the fact that there are now 112 States parties to the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,/8/
Noting the importance of the monitoring function of the Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women, as demonstrated most recently in its general recommendation
19 on violence against women, adopted at its eleventh session,/9/
Recalling its resolution 1991/25 of 30 May 1991 and other relevant resolutions adopted
by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council relating to support for the
Committee,
Concerned that the duration of the annual session of the Committee, which is
considerably less than that of other treaty bodies, has prevented the timely consideration
by the Committee of many of the reports submitted to it by States parties,
Noting with concern that the Convention is the human rights instrument with the most
reservations, and welcoming the decision by a number of States parties to withdraw their
reservations to the Convention,
1. Supports the request of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against
Women for additional meeting time and also supports the proposal that the twelfth session
of the Committee should be of three weeks' duration;
2. Recommends that three weeks be allocated for each subsequent session until the
Committee removes its backlog in considering reports;
3. Strongly supports general recommendation 19 on violence against women adopted by the
Committee at its eleventh session, and calls on States parties to prepare their reports in
accordance with this and other general recommendations of the Committee;
4. Welcomes other general recommendations adopted by the Committee at its previous
sessions;
5. Urges the Secretary-General to continue to widely publicize the decisions and
recommendations of the Committee.
Violence against women in all its forms*
* For the discussion, see chap. III.
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling its resolution 1991/18 of 30 May 1991, in which it requested that an expert
group meeting be held to address the issue of violence against women and to discuss the
possibilities of preparing an international instrument on this subject and the elements to
be contained therein,
Bearing in mind that the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of
Women/10/ identify violence against women as a major obstacle to the achievement of the
objectives of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace,
Noting that, in general recommendation 19, adopted by the Committee on the Elimination
of Discrimination against Women at its eleventh session,/11/ the Committee recognized that
gender-based violence was a form of discrimination that seriously inhibited the ability of
women to enjoy rights and freedoms on a basis of equality with men,
Noting also the response of the Committee to the report of the Secretary-General on
violence against women in all its forms,/12/ the annex to which contained the
recommendations and a summary of the discussion of the Expert Group Meeting on Violence
against Women, held at Vienna from 11 to 15/November/1991,
1. Calls on Governments to recognize that the elimination of violence against women is
essential to the achievement of equality for women and is a requirement for the full
respect of human rights;
2. Urges Member States to adopt, strengthen and enforce legislation prohibiting
violence against women and to take all appropriate administrative, social and educational
measures to protect women from all forms of physical and mental violence, in accordance
with its resolution/1991/18;
3. Calls on States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women/13/ to take the steps necessary to implement general
recommendation/19, adopted by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against
Women at its eleventh session;
4. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on violence against women in all
its forms;
5. Decides to convene an inter-sessional working group of the Commission on the Status
of Women, open to all Member States and observer States, to further develop a draft
declaration on violence against women, taking into account the draft declaration contained
in the annex to the report of the Secretary-General and to report to the Commission, at
its thirty-seventh session, with a view to recommending a draft declaration to the General
Assembly through the Economic and Social Council;
6. Requests Governments, international organizations, non-governmental organizations,
other relevant bodies and academics to continue to undertake research into the causes of
violence against women;
7. Urges Governments to address violence against women at the Fourth World Conference
on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, to be held in 1995, as one of the
major obstacles to women's advancement.
Communications on the status of women*
* For the discussion, see chap. III.
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling its resolutions 76 (V) of 5 August 1947 and 304 I (XI) of 14/and 17/July
1950, which form the basis for the mandate of the Commission on the Status of Women to
receive at each of its regular sessions a list of confidential and non-confidential
communications relating to the status of women,
Taking into consideration its resolution 1983/27 of 26/May/1983, in which it reaffirmed
the mandate of the Commission to consider confidential and non-confidential communications
on the status of women and authorized the Commission to appoint a working group to
consider communications, with a view to bringing to the attention of the Commission those
communications, including the replies of Governments, which appear to reveal a consistent
pattern of reliably attested injustice and discriminatory practices against women,
Reaffirming that discrimination against women is incompatible with human dignity and
that women and men should participate on the basis of equality, irrespective of race or
creed, in the social, economic and political processes of their countries,
Recalling its resolution 1990/8 of 24/May/1990, by which it requested the
Secretary-General to examine, in consultation with Governments, the existing mechanisms
for communications on the status of women, in order to ensure that such communications
receive effective and appropriately coordinated consideration in view of the role of
communications in the work of the Commission, and to report thereon to the Commission at
its thirty-fifth session,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on examining existing mechanisms for
communications on the status of women,/14/ and the various views expressed by Governments,
Noting the conclusion of the Working Group on Communications, in its report to the
Commission at its thirty-fifth session/15/ that, while the communications procedure
provided a valuable source of information on the effects of discrimination on the lives of
women, it should be improved to make it more efficient and useful, and that clear criteria
for receiving communications should be given,
1. Reaffirms that the Commission on the Status of Women is empowered to make
recommendations to the Economic and Social Council on what action should be taken on
emerging trends and patterns of discrimination against women revealed by such
communications;
2. Requests the Secretary-General to publicize widely among international and national
organizations, in particular women's groups, the existence and scope of the communication
mechanisms of the Commission;
3. Further requests the Secretary-General to support the activities of the Commission
with regard to its consideration of communications and to ensure proper coordination of
the activities of the Commission in this area and those of the other bodies of the
Council, by taking the following action:
(a) Ensuring that the Division for the Advancement of Women of the
United/Nations/Office at Vienna and the Centre for Human Rights coordinate closely so that
all communications received are sent as soon as possible to the appropriate United/Nations
body and to each concerned Member State, and that the respective offices are informed of
the disposition of the communications;
(b) Encouraging the specialized agencies of the United/Nations to provide to the
Commission, through the Division for the Advancement of Women, communications or other
information in their possession that is relevant to discrimination against women;
(c) Making available to authors of communications any recommendations by the Commission
to the Council on situations brought to the attention of the Commission by the Working
Group on Communications;
4. Reaffirms that the consideration by the Commission of the communications shall
remain confidential until such time as the Commission may decide to make recommendations
to the Council;
5. Requests the Commission, in order to avoid duplication of work, to determine whether
a trend or pattern of discrimination against women revealed by communications should be
brought to the attention of another United/Nations body or specialized agency that might
be better able to take appropriate action;
6. Further requests the Commission to consider, as appropriate, ways of making the
existing procedure for receiving and considering communications, including the standard of
admissibility, more transparent and efficient, taking into account the report of the
Secretary-General on examining mechanisms for communications on the status of women,/14/
which was submitted to the Commission at its thirty-fifth session;
7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that any costs resulting from the
activities set out in the present resolution are kept to a minimum and that the activities
are carried out within existing resources.
Advancement of women and human rights*
* For the discussion, see chap. IV.
The Economic and Social Council,
Recalling General Assembly resolution/45/155 of 18 December 1990, in which it was
decided to convene a World Conference on Human Rights in 1993 and to establish a
Preparatory Committee for it,
Noting that the General Assembly, in resolution/46/116 of 17/December/1991, requested
concerned United/Nations bodies and specialized agencies, among others, to submit
recommendations on the World Conference to the Preparatory Committee for the Conference,
Also noting General Assembly resolution 46/98 of 16/December/1991, in particular
paragraph/8 thereof,
Bearing in mind its resolution 1990/15 of 24/May/1990, in which it approved the
recommendations and conclusions arising from the first review and appraisal of the
implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women
annexed to that resolution, and in particular those related to the maintenance of de/facto
discrimination, which prevents women from achieving effective equality,
Taking into account the fact that the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women/16/ have identified violence against women as one of the major
obstacles to the achievement of the objectives of the United/Nations Decade for Women:
Equality, Development and Peace,
Welcoming general recommendation/19, adopted by the Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women at its eleventh session,/17/ and the recommendations of the
Expert Group Meeting on Violence against Women, held at Vienna from 11 to 15
November/1991,/18/
Affirming that various forms of violence against women are violations of human rights,
1. Calls upon the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference on Human Rights, when
preparing the agenda and studies for the World Conference, to take into account the
existence of de/facto as well as de/jure discrimination, which continue to impede women's
full enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights, as well as their civil and
political rights;
2. Further calls upon the Preparatory Committee, in preparing for the examination by
the World Conference of the main obstacles to the implementation of international human
rights instruments, to pay adequate attention to the global problem of violence against
women;
3. Invites the Centre for Human Rights and Member States, in preparing for the World
Conference, to make use of gender disaggregated data, which identify situations of
inequality between women and men;
4. Requests the Secretary-General, in accordance with General Assembly
resolution/46/98, to guarantee the participation of the secretariats of the Commission on
the Status of Women and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
in the preparatory process for the World Conference as well as in the Conference itself;
5. Requests the Division for the Advancement of Women, as the secretariat of the
Commission, to report to the Commission, at its thirty-seventh session, on the state of
the preparatory process for the World Conference and the related activities of the
Division, in accordance with General Assembly resolution/46/98;
6. Requests the Commission to establish, during its thirty-seventh session, an
open-ended working group to consider its contribution to the World Conference;
7. Urges Member States to consider, when preparing for the World Conference at the
national level, to integrate fully into the scope of the Conference issues related to
women's rights, and to respect the principle of equal participation of women and men in
their delegations.
2. The Commission on the Status of Women recommends to the Economic and Social Council
the adoption of the following draft decisions:
Report of the Commission on the Status of Women on its thirty-sixth session and
provisional agenda and documentation for the thirty-seventh session of the Commission*
* for the discussion, see chap. VI.
The Economic and Social Council takes note of the report of the Commission on the
Status of Women on its thirty-sixth session and approves the provisional agenda for the
thirty-seventh session of the Commission, set out below, and the relevant documentation:
PROVISIONAL AGENDA AND DOCUMENTATION FOR THE THIRTY-SEVENTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION
ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
1. Election of officers.
(Legislative authority: rule 15 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions
of the Economic and Social Council)
2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.
(Legislative authority: Economic and Social Council resolution 1894/(LVII); rules/5 and
7 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Council)
3. Programming and coordination matters related to the United Nations and the United
Nations system.
(Legislative authority: Programme planning regulation/4.12; General Assembly
resolution/46/100; Economic and Social Council resolutions 1988/60, 1989/30, 1989/105)
Documentation
Report of the Secretary-General containing updated information on the status of women
in the Secretariat
Report of the Secretary-General on the preparation of the system-wide medium-term plan
for the advancement of women for the period 1996-2000
Note by the Secretariat on programme proposals for the biennium 1994-1995
For information
Report of the Secretary-General on the status of women in the Secretariat/(A/47/...)
4. Monitoring the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women
(Legislative authority: General Assembly resolutions/40/108, 41/111, 42/62, 43/101,
44/77, 45/124, 45/129; Economic and Social Council resolutions/1988/22, 1990/5, 1990/15;
Commission on the Status of Women resolution/34/1)
Documentation
Report of the Secretary-General on the preliminary version of the update of the World
Survey on the Role of Women in Development
Report of the Secretary-General on statistical indicators relating to the
implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women
Report of the Secretary-General on the situation of and assistance to Palestinian women
Report of the Secretary-General on women and children under apartheid
Report of the Secretary-General on violence against women
Report of the Secretary-General on women and the United Nations Decade against Drug
Abuse
Report of the Secretariat on activities related to preparations for the World
Conference on Human Rights
Note by the Secretary-General transmitting a list of confidential and non-confidential
communications concerning the status of women
For information
Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking
Strategies for the Advancement of Women/(A/47/...)
Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its
eleventh session (A/47/38)
Report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women/(A/47/...)
5. Priority themes:
(Legislative authority: Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/15)
(a) Equality: Increased awareness by women of their rights, including legal literacy
(b) Development: Women in extreme poverty: integration of women's concerns in national
development planning
(c) Peace: Women and the peace process
Documentation
Report of the Secretary-General on increased awareness by women of their rights,
including legal literacy
Report of the Secretary-General on women in extreme poverty: integration of women's
concerns in national development planning
Report of the Secretary-General on women and the peace process
6. Preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality,
Development and Peace
(Legislative authority: General Assembly resolutions/45/129, 46/98; Economic and Social
Council resolutions 1987/20, 1990/9, 1990/12, 1990/15; Commission on the Status of Women
resolution/35/4)
Documentation
Report of the Secretary-General on preparations for the Fourth World Conference on
Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace
Report of the Secretary-General on a first draft that will serve as a working document
for the elaboration of the Platform for Action
Report of the Secretary-General on the outline and contents of the second report on the
implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies
Report of the Secretary-General on the planning and implementation of the information
campaign
7. Provisional agenda for the thirty-eighth session of the Commission
8. Adoption of the report of the Commission on its thirty-seventh session
Request for additional conference facilities during the thirty-seventh session of the
Commission on the Status of Women*
* For the discussion, see chap. VI.
The Economic and Social Council decides to approve the convening of four additional
meetings, with interpretation services, to be held simultaneously with the plenary
meetings of the Commission on the Status of Women during its thirty-seventh session, for
the purpose of considering, in informal meetings, the preparations for the Fourth World
Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace.
3. The following resolutions adopted by the Commission are brought to the attention of
the Council:
** For the discussion, see chap. III.
The Commission on the Status of Women,
Recalling its resolution 34/7 of 8 March 1990, in which the Commission decided to give
further consideration to the question of the International Year of the Family at
subsequent sessions,
Recommends to the Commission on Social Development that the following elements be taken
into account at its thirty-third session when preparing for the 1994 International Year of
the Family:
(a) That families are changing systems of relationships between individuals, and that
society and policies must therefore be responsive and receptive to their needs;
(b) That individual rights of women and men should be respected equally and they should
have equal opportunities to assert those rights;
(c) That, as regards equality of women and men, the concept of equality must be
understood as expressed in the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of
Women/19/ and in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women,/20/ and must be taken into account in all policies and programmes for the
International Year of the Family;
(d) That it is vital for women to participate in decision-making at all levels and
spheres, in particular with regard to the formulation of family policies;
(e) That violence in families violates human rights, especially those of women and
children;
(f) That the need to develop communication skills and positive attitudes towards truly
equal partnership should be emphasized;
(g) That the raising and upbringing of new generations in families are not only the
responsibilities of women, but also of men, who should play their role as equal
responsible partners;
(h) That, bearing in mind the needs of workers with family responsibilities,
Governments and other appropriate bodies should introduce appropriate measures to assist
the reconciliation between family and working responsibilities, whether paid or unpaid;
(i) That family policies should take into account the findings of gender-sensitive
research, based on information gathered from all family members;
(j) That the planning of activities and programmes for the International/Year of the
Family should be elaborated and implemented at international, regional and national levels
in close cooperation with the existing mechanisms for the advancement of women and
interested women's non-governmental organizations.
* For the discussion, see chap. III.
The Commission on the Status of Women,
Considering that, in accordance with General Assembly resolution/45/129 of 14 December
1990, the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace,
which will examine the main obstacles that account for the persistence of inequality and
discrimination affecting women, is to be held in 1995,
Recognizing that the manifestations of inequality and discrimination are present in the
main themes that are of fundamental interest to the United/Nations,
Recalling the need for system-wide institutional coordination on issues relating to
women, as indicated in paragraphs 338 to 344 of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for
the Advancement of Women;/21/
Further recalling that, prior to the Fourth World Conference on Women, the
United/Nations will be holding important conferences and other meetings on issues that are
unquestionably linked with and important for the living conditions and situation of women,
Taking into account General Assembly resolution 46/98 of 16/December/1991, in which the
Commission was requested, when considering the priority theme relating to development
during its thirty-sixth and subsequent sessions, to ensure its early contribution to the
work of forthcoming international conferences,
1. Recommends to Member States that they include the question of women in the agendas
of the World Conference on Human Rights and the International Conference on Population and
Development, to be held in 1993 and 1994 respectively;
2. Also recommends that the same procedure be followed for the national, regional and
international preparatory meetings for the above-mentioned Conferences.
* For the discussion, see chap. IV.
The Commission on the Status of Women,
Recalling the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women,/22/ in
particular paragraphs 86 to 92 thereof,
Recalling also the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women,/23/ in particular articles 7 and 8,
Noting the recommendations contained in the reports of the Secretary-General on various
aspects of the participation of women in public life, submitted to the Commission on the
Status of Women at its thirty-third, thirty-fourth and thirty-sixth sessions, as well as
the recommendations and conclusions arising from the first review and appraisal of the
implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies, contained in the annex to
Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/15 of 24 May 1990,
Gravely concerned that women continue to be generally underrepresented in key areas of
national, regional and international decision-making,
Convinced that no true democracy can be achieved without the full participation and
contribution of women, including their contribution to decision-making, in all spheres of
life,
1. Urges Governments to increase their efforts to appoint women to all executive
decision-making bodies in political, economic and cultural life, as well as to advisory
boards and councils, so as to incrementally achieve full gender equality;
2. Also urges political parties, trade unions and non-governmental organizations to
encourage women to use their rights, to promote women, to put forward women as candidates
to all elective posts and actively to support their election to such posts;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to update and disseminate, on a regular basis,
information on the composition of the high-level decision-making bodies at the national,
regional and international levels, disaggregated by sex;
4. Encourages institutes of the United Nations system, especially the International
Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, to undertake research on the
participation of women in decision-making in public life, highlighting the continuing
obstacles to such participation, the positive effects of the increased participation of
women and the mechanisms for achieving such increased participation of women.
* For the discussion, see chap. IV.
The Commission on the Status of Women,
Recalling paragraph 286 of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement
of Women,/24/ concerning elderly women, and the pertinent recommendations of the
International Plan of Action on Ageing,/25/ and also recalling the terms of Economic and
Social Council resolution 1989/38 of 24/May/1989, according to which women constitute a
majority of the elderly population, and that in the twenty-first century the number of
elderly women will increase more rapidly in the developing countries,
Aware of the fact that the obstacles to their advancement encountered by young women
and the decisions concerning their instruction, education, family life, health, and
employment will have important consequences in their future lives,
Emphasizing the consequent need to adopt an approach for the advancement of women that
takes into account all stages of life, so as to identify measures that respond to women's
needs,
Equally aware of the fact that elderly women, in all regions of the world, represent an
important human resource, and that their contribution to society and development in the
economic, cultural, political and social fields often remains unseen or unrecognized,
Calling attention to the urgent need to develop and improve the publication of
statistics by sex and by age, and to identify and evaluate the different forms of
activities of elderly women which are not normally recognized as having an economic value,
in particular in the informal sector,
1. Invites the competent organs of the United/Nations to adopt an approach that, in all
their strategies and programmes for the advancement of women, takes into account all
stages of life; this approach must envisage the advancement of young women, while bearing
in mind the subsequent consequences of decisions taken on their account;
2. Calls upon the Secretary-General to compile within existing resources a
comprehensive annotated bibliography on the status of elderly women so that research
already being conducted world wide can be incorporated in future assessments;
3. Welcomes the efforts of the Division for the Advancement of Women of the Centre for
Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat to establish, in
cooperation with non-governmental organizations, model profiles of the present situation
of elderly women that will permit all countries, whatever their level of development, to
make the necessary projections;
4. Encourages Member States to utilize these model profiles to compile and analyse
information on the situation of present and future generations of elderly women, and
invites contributing organizations to provide to Member States, in collaboration with
them, financial and technical assistance for this purpose;
5. Notes with appreciation the work of the Statistical Office and the Population
Division of the Secretariat and of the International Research and Training Institute for
the Advancement of Women, and encourages them to develop a statistical methodology to
enable the quantification and evaluation of the contribution of women, which does not
generally appear at the present time, in the national accounts of States;
6. Invites international development agencies and organizations, including the
United/Nations Development Fund for Women and the United Nations Development Programme, to
take account of the potential of elderly women as a human resource for development and to
include elderly women in their development strategies and programmes, and encourages
Governments to ensure the inclusion of women, regardless of age, in development projects
covered by national and multilateral financial institutions;
7. Requests the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to pay
particular attention to discrimination on grounds of age when evaluating national reports
on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women; 26/
8. Invites the Preparatory Committee for the World Conference on Human Rights, to be
held in 1993, to include in the agenda of that Conference discrimination on grounds of age
and sex;
9. Invites the Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on Population and
Development, to be held in 1994, to include in the agenda of that Conference the situation
of elderly women and their integration in development;
10. Encourages Governments, non-governmental organizations and other bodies to involve
women, including elderly women, in their development activities;
11. Invites the Secretary-General to report to the Commission at its thirty-eighth
session on the following matters:
(a) The establishment, on a country-by-country basis, of profiles concerning the
present and future situation of women at all stages of their lives;
(b) An evaluation of analytical methods permitting the establishment of strategies and
programmes for the integration of women in development;
(c) The inclusion of gender criteria in numerical targets concerning ageing being
prepared by the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs of the Secretariat,
and to report on the implementation of these programmes and targets to the International
Conference on Population and Development, in 1994, and to the Fourth World Conference on
Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace in 1995.
* For the discussion, see chap./IV.
The Commission on the Status of Women,
Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/15 of 24/May/1990 and Commission
resolutions 34/3 of 8 March 1990 and 35/7 of 8/March/1991,
Reaffirming the principles contained in the Declaration on the Right to Development,
adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 41/128, annex, of 4/December/1986,
Convinced that the effective mobilization of women is an essential element to achieving
the objectives of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women/27/
and the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United/Nations Development
Decade,/28/
Aware that the slow progress in the implementation of the Forward-looking Strategies as
related to development necessitates urgent action to be taken by all the parties
concerned,
Aware also of the need to recognize the importance of gender in all areas of social,
economic and political life in order to bridge the gap between the roles of men and women
in development and to train planners, policy makers, decision makers and relevant staff in
gender analysis,
Reaffirming that the full integration of women in development, both as agents and
beneficiaries, should concern all sectors of society,
Convinced that improving the distribution between both sexes of the tasks related to
productive and reproductive functions is an essential strategy for development and has to
be reflected in the implementation of concrete economic and social policies,
Further convinced that international cooperation for development has a fundamental role
in the creation of proper conditions that allow women to achieve full integration in
development,
Deeply concerned about the worsening situation of women in developing countries,
particularly in the least developed countries,
Expressing special concern about women living in extreme poverty, in rural as well as
in urban areas,
Expressing deep concern that, despite the fact that poor rural women contribute to all
aspects of the well-being of rural families and account for more than half of the food
production of developing countries, they are often the most vulnerable and disadvantaged
group in society,
Aware of the need for women, as agents and beneficiaries of development, to be
empowered to define their own means of development, as well as of the need to guarantee
them access to services, such as education, health, maternity and child care and credit,
among others, in order to fully integrate women into the development process,
Keeping in mind the fact that the impact of structural adjustment policies, adverse
terms of trade and the growing foreign debt on developing countries, particularly the
least developed countries, has had a negative effect on efforts for the full integration
of women in development,
1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "Development:
integration of women in the process of development",/29/ which contains the
conclusions and recommendations of the Seminar on the Integration of Women in Development;
2. Urges Governments to foster women's full participation in the elaboration, planning,
execution and evaluation of development policies and projects so that they can be agents
and beneficiaries of development;
3. Also urges Governments to adopt policies to promote economic development that will
ensure the full and explicit integration of women's needs and concerns;
4. Further urges Governments to include gender perspectives in the major guidelines for
economic and social policies and to increase their capacities and capabilities in
gender-responsive and gender-sensitive planning of development programmes;
5. Urges Governments to foster the access of women to income-generating activities as a
means of stimulating economic independence, a basic requirement for women's
self-sufficiency;
6. Urges Governments to identify their own quantitative and qualitative national
targets in such fields as education and training, employment, income generation, health
and women in public life with regard to the full integration of women in development and
to commit adequate resources to women and development programmes;
7. Recommends that Governments create or strengthen national machinery for the
advancement of women, placing it at the highest level, and ensure its greater involvement
in the political, economic and social planning processes;
8. Also recommends that Governments, international donors and non-governmental
organizations develop gender-oriented research in all development areas, particularly by
the involvement of national research institutes, and promote specific measures in the
field of training in gender analysis programmes for development decision makers and the
relevant staff involved in the policy and programme areas, in addition to implementation
processes;
9. Calls upon Governments, international financial and other relevant institutions and
non-governmental organizations to promote measures to stimulate the economies of
developing countries and the full integration of women in the development process and to
provide financial services on the basis of equal opportunity for women and men, while
avoiding adverse effects on their well-being, particularly that of vulnerable groups;
10. Calls upon donor Governments and international financial institutions to provide
adequate and timely support for the efforts of the developing countries, particularly the
least developed countries, in reducing the negative effects of the external debt burden,
structural adjustment policies and adverse terms of trade, with a view to integrating
women in mainstream development;
11. Appeals to Governments, donor countries, international organizations and
appropriate financial institutions to make greater efforts to support the establishment of
cooperative rural banks and other development-related institutions to assist women,
particularly those engaged in small- and medium-scale productive activities;
12. Requests Member States to make provision for specific training programmes for women
in rural and urban areas aimed at developing their technical and management skills and to
give financial support, fellowships or both for training women, particularly those from
developing countries, in science, technology, agriculture and management;
13. Calls upon Governments, donor countries and relevant international organizations to
take further coordinated measures to facilitate the access of women, particularly rural
and urban poor women, to basic education and health and child-care facilities;
14. Requests the Secretary-General, in reporting on the implementation of the present
resolution in his biennial monitoring report on the implementation of the Nairobi
Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, to include policy and programme
recommendations on the basis of gender analysis;
15. Also requests the Secretary-General to ensure that the issues of women and
development and of the integration of women in development programmes are an integral part
of the International Development Strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development
Decade.
* For the discussion, see chap. IV.
The Commission on the Status of Women,
Recalling the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women,/30/ in
particular paragraphs 224 to 227, which emphasize the impact upon women of environmental
degradation and the importance of the awareness of women and women's organizations of
environmental issues and of the enhancement of women's capacity to participate at all
levels in the management of their environment,
Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/15 of 24/May/1990, in which
the Council adopted the recommendations and conclusions arising from the first review and
appraisal of the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women contained in the annex to that resolution,
Bearing in mind the preparations for the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development, to be held at Rio de Janeiro in June/1992, on the basis of General Assembly
resolution 44/228 of 22 December 1989,
Taking into account all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, in particular
resolution 46/167 of 19/December 1991 on women, environment, population and sustainable
development,
Taking note of the conclusions and recommendations of the Global Assembly of Women and
the Environment: Partners in Life, held at Miami, Florida, from 4/to/8/November 1991,
Expressing its concern about the global environmental crisis and its conviction that
women have an important role to play in the protection of the environment and natural
resources and in the promotion of sustainable development,
Gravely concerned that major causes of the continuing deterioration of the global
environment are the unsustainable pattern of production and consumption, particularly in
developed countries, and increasing poverty in many developing countries,
Aware that traditional and advanced technologies are needed to implement programmes and
projects aimed at the promotion of environmentally sound development,
Stressing the importance of the international transfer of appropriate technologies to
the promotion of sound environment and sustainable development,
Recognizing that the cooperation and assistance of as well as the work performed by the
non-governmental organizations are efficient mechanisms in the struggle for protecting and
preserving the environment and for promoting the full participation of women in the
management of the environment,
1. Urges Governments to adopt laws, policies and programmes to promote women's
participation in the preservation of the environment in their countries, in the interest
of present and future populations and of humankind;
2. Also urges national, State and local governments, as well as governmental and
non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to promote a higher level of
involvement of women in the planning, implementation and evaluation of policies,
programmes and action aiming at environmental protection, the conservation of natural
resources and economic development;
3. Urges Governments to promote within their programmes of environmental management,
specific activities aimed at the education, and professional and leadership training of
women in environmental issues;
4. Requests Governments and multilateral financial institutions to provide new and
additional financial resources for the promotion of women's participation in sustainable
development in the developing countries in general and in the least developed countries in
particular, channelled by means of democratic and appropriate institutional mechanisms
responsive to the priorities of women in the target communities;
5. Calls for the active participation of women in the management of funds allocated to
the protection of the environment and to sustainable development;
6. Calls upon Governments, non-governmental organizations and other social groups,
women's organizations in particular, to promote the necessary changes in production
policies and consumption habits, mainly in developed countries, and also to promote the
development of effective international cooperation in the areas of research, development
and the application of environmentally sound technologies;
7. Reminds Governments, governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as
transnational corporations, of the necessity of facilitating the access of women in
developing countries to environmentally sound appropriate technologies;
8. Invites the Governments of donor countries, international organizations and relevant
non-governmental organizations to ensure that greater attention is given to women's
contributions to environmental protection and management in their cooperation with and
assistance to developing countries, with a view to preserving the environment and
promoting sustainable development in those countries;
9. Urges Governments to put greater emphasis on linkages between environmental
management and underlying problems, such as poverty, population growth and distribution,
unsanitary living conditions and lack of water, and on action to deal with such problems;
10. Requests national Governments and all governmental and non-governmental
organizations to ensure the equitable participation of women in their delegations to the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development;
11. Requests the Preparatory Committee for the United/Nations Conference on Environment
and Development, at its fourth session, to give full and substantive consideration to the
recommendations of the Commission concerning women and the environment, in accordance with
General/Assembly resolution 46/167;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to monitor the progress made in the area of women
and the environment and to submit a report on the review and appraisal of that subject to
the Commission at its thirty-eighth session, to serve as a working document in the
preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development
and Peace, in 1995.
* For the discussion, see chap. IV.
The Commission on the Status of Women,
Taking into account the fact that the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women have identified violence against women as one of the major obstacles
to the achievement of the objectives of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality,
Development and Peace,/31/
Recalling Commission on Human Rights resolution 1992/82 of 5/March/1992, concerning the
promotion and furtherance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,/32/
Profoundly concerned about the persistent acts of violence perpetrated in various
countries by armed groups and by drug traffickers who terrorize the population and
threaten in particular the safety and lives of women and children,
Reaffirming that such acts prevent the full exercise of civil and political rights,
such as participation in free elections, the right to peaceful assembly, freedom of
association and trade union rights, as well as the exercise of economic, social and
cultural rights, thus undermining the welfare of the people and seriously harming the
economic infrastructure and production,
1. Strongly condemns the acts of violence perpetrated by armed groups and by drug
traffickers who terrorize and threaten the safety and lives of the population, especially
women, and, in particular, women who have been democratically elected to public office, or
who are leaders of community organizations or welfare associations, or who have been
appointed by the Government to positions of responsibility;
2. Expresses its profound concern about the adverse effect on the enjoyment of human
rights caused by armed groups and by drug traffickers who terrorize the population and
threaten the safety and lives of women;
3. Requests governmental and non-governmental organizations to pay particular attention
to these violations of human rights;
4. Decides to consider this question under the priority theme "Peace" at its
thirty-seventh session.
* For the discussion, see chap./V.
The Commission on the Status of Women,
Recalling the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of/Women,/33/
endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution/40/108 of 13/December/1985,
Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1987/20 of 26/May/1987, in which
the Council decided that the Commission on the Status of Women should be designated as the
preparatory body for world conferences on women,
Recalling further Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/15 of 24/May/1990 on the
recommendations and conclusions arising from the first review and appraisal of the
implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women to
the year 2000,
Recalling also its resolution 35/4 of 8/March/1991 on preparations for the world
conference on women in 1995 and its decision 35/101 of 8/March/1991 on the title of the
Conference,
A
Organization of the Conference
Noting with appreciation the offers made by the Governments of Austria and China to act
as host for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and
Peace, and the forum for non-governmental organizations,
Taking into consideration General Assembly resolution 46/98 of 16/December 1991, in
which the Assembly requested the Commission to decide on the venue of the Fourth World
Conference on Women not later than at its thirty-sixth session, in accordance with
Commission decision 35/102 of 8/March/1991, bearing in mind that preference should be
given to the region that had not yet hosted a world conference on women,
Considering the duration of previous world conferences on women, as well as similar
United Nations conferences,
Bearing in mind that the Conference in 1995 coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of
the United Nations,
Affirming the importance to the success of the Conference of the maximum participation
of Governments at the highest possible level, of intergovernmental organizations,
organizations of the United Nations system and interested non-governmental organizations,
as well as other regional organizations acting through their representatives to the
Commission,
Recalling that the General Assembly, in its resolution 46/98, requested the
Secretary-General to appoint not later than 1992 the Secretary-General of the Conference,
Recalling its resolution 35/4, in which the Commission decided to prepare a programme
of action for consideration by the Conference,
1. Decides
(a) To accept the offer of the Government of China to act as host for the Fourth World
Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 40/243 of 18/December/1985;
(b) That the Conference should be of a duration of ten working days;
(c) That the Conference should be held at Beijing from 4 to 15/September/1995;
2. Also decides to recommend that participation in the Conference should be open to:
(a) All States Members of the United/Nations or of any of the specialized agencies or
of the International Atomic Energy Agency;
(b) Representatives of organizations that have received a standing invitation from the
General Assembly to participate in the sessions and the work of all international
conferences convened under its auspices in the capacity of observers to participate in the
Conference in that capacity, in accordance with Assembly resolutions 3237 (XXIX) of
22/November/1974 and 43/177 of 15/December/1988;
(c) Representatives of the national liberation movements recognized in its region by
the Organization of African Unity to participate in the Conference in the capacity of
observers, in accordance with General/Assembly resolution 3280 (XXIX) of 10/December/1974;
(d) The executive heads of the specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy
Agency, as well as interested organizations of the United Nations system;
(e) Other interested intergovernmental organizations, to be represented by observers at
the Conference;
(f) Interested non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic
and Social Council, to be represented by observers at the Conference;
(g) Individuals who, in recognition of their personal contributions to the advancement
of women, are invited by the Secretary-General;
(h) Members of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women;
3. Requests the Economic and Social Council to request the Committee on
Non-Governmental Organizations to consider on a priority basis, in advance of the
Conference, the granting of consultative status to more non-governmental organizations
concerned with the advancement of women, with particular attention being given to
applications from non-governmental organizations from developing countries, and also
requests that the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations be provided with additional
resources to deal with the additional workload;
4. Recommends that the arrangements for consultation with non-governmental
organizations, as approved by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution
1296/(XLIV) of 23/May/1968, be reviewed to make consultative status more accessible to
non-governmental organizations, particularly those from developing countries;
5. Recommends that the Secretary-General appoint a woman as Secretary-General of the
Conference, not later than 1992, who should have international stature in relation to the
advancement of women and experience in the United Nations system, and who would assume
primary responsibility for the preparation of the Conference;
6. Also recommends that, in appointing the necessary staff for the Conference, the
Secretary-General include persons from the developing and the least developed countries,
taking into consideration equitable geographical distribution;
7. Decides that the agenda for the Conference shall include:
(a) The second review and appraisal of the implementation of the Nairobi
Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women to the year 2000;
(b) The Platform for Action;
(c) The main conclusions and recommendations of regional preparatory conferences;
[ Up ]
(d) Institutional arrangements for the implementation of the Platform for Action;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Commission, at its
thirty-seventh session, continuing a first draft, which will serve as a working document
for the elaboration of the Platform for Action, taking as a basis all guidelines contained
in Commission resolution 35/4, the impact of the changes that have taken place in the
international community on the status of women, the importance of integrating gender
perspectives in policy-making in all areas and at all levels, the need to give priority to
the situation of rural women, in particular in developing countries, and differences in
priorities among regions, based on a full input from the organizations of the United
Nations system, as well as other regional organizations acting through their
representatives to the Commission;
9. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission at its
thirty-seventh session a report containing (a) information on data that would be used/in
the formulation of the second report on the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking
Strategies and (b) an outline of the second report, in/which special emphasis should be
given to the recommendations and conclusions arising from the first review and appraisal
of the implementation of the Strategies, contained in the annex to Council
resolution/1990/15, in particular those referring to the condition of women in developing
countries;
10. Further requests the Secretary-General to prepare draft rules of procedure for
consideration by the Commission at its thirty-eighth session;
B
Preparatory process
Emphasizing the importance of national preparatory activities in focusing national
attention on the issue of the status and advancement of women, and of national machinery
to assess the situation and mobilize national non-governmental organizations and
individuals, with a view to improving national performance in the advancement of women,
Considering the importance of activities for the advancement of women that have taken
place at the regional level since International Women's Year and recognizing the necessity
of providing for an exchange of national experiences and the elaboration of regional
priorities and perspectives for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality,
Development and Peace, and to the year 2000,
Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/9 of 24/May/1990 on the second
report on the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement
of Women,
Recognizing the importance of non-governmental organizations in the preparations for
the Conference at the national, regional and global levels, especially the forum for
non-governmental organizations, which will take place prior to and partially
simultaneously with the Conference,
Acknowledging the important role of women entrepreneurship, notably in small and
medium-sized enterprises, in mobilizing resources and in promoting economic growth and
socio-economic development,
Convinced that promotion of the Conference requires the creative and effective use of
public information,
1. Recommends that Governments establish a national committee or designate a national
focal point to initiate and promote preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women:
Action for Equality, Development and Peace, by organizing and coordinating national
activities, including assembling information and gender-disaggregated statistics for the
elaboration of national reports on the situation of women, and increasing public awareness
about the Conference, and requests that reports on such activities be made available to
the Secretary-General;
2. Urges organizations of the United Nations system, at the national level, to
cooperate with national efforts to prepare for the Conference and to coordinate their
activities through the United Nations Resident Coordinator;
3. Requests the Secretary-General to inform Governments about the recommendation
regarding national committees or focal points;
4. Recommends that the national reports cited in paragraph 1 above cover the period
from 1985 to the present;
5. Urges the organizations of the United Nations system to provide support, on request,
to the preparation of national reports;
6. Recommends that regional conferences already scheduled include in their agendas
preparations for the World Conference and suggests that, in those regions that have not
yet scheduled them, regional conferences to prepare for the World Conference be organized
under the auspices of the corresponding regional commission;
7. Requests the regional conferences to identify regional trends, priorities, obstacles
and innovative suggestions for future action and that the results of those regional
conferences be provided to the Commission not later than at its thirty-ninth session;
8. Recommends that regional conferences include in their agendas the issue of women in
public life, emphasizing their role in politics and decision-making;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to include information on women in public life in the
preparations of the priority theme on peace: women in international decision-making, for
the Commission at its thirty-ninth session;
10. Recommends that a public information strategy for the Conference be designed, using
information mechanisms that reach the greatest number of people and based on the
Conference themes, in particular those related to development;
11. Also recommends that regional conferences include in their agendas the issue of
entrepreneurship and the advancement of women, emphasizing the need to facilitate an
overall entrepreneurial activity through appropriate economic policies, training, access
to credit, information and other support systems;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to plan and implement an information campaign and to
issue a new bulletin entitled Conference 95 twice a year to disseminate information on
preparatory activities for the Conference at all levels in all official languages;
13. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide Governments with a concise set of
guidelines for public information campaigns at the national level and with periodic
information packages that can be made available to national mass media and
non-governmental organizations;
14. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission at its
thirty-seventh session on the planning and implementation of the complete information
campaign, including its priorities and resource needs;
15. Requests the Secretary-General to include the Conference as part of the
celebrations for the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations;
C
Forum for non-governmental organizations
Recalling successful forums for non-governmental organizations held in Mexico,
Copenhagen and Nairobi,
Acknowledging the offer made by the host Government to all non-governmental
organizations and individuals wishing to attend the forum in Beijing,
1. Emphasizes the importance of close proximity between the forum and the Fourth World
Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, as well as some
concurrence in time;
2. Invites the committee of non-governmental organizations arranging the forum and
national and regional activities to provide information, including media arrangements, to
the Commission through a report of the Secretary-General on preparations for the
Conference;
3. Emphasizes the importance of unrestricted participation by the media in covering the
forum;
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D
Resources for the Conference and its preparations
Recalling General Assembly resolution 46/98 of 16/December/1991, in which concern was
expressed that the resources for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for
Equality, Development and Peace, were not sufficient, and Assembly resolution 46/185 of
20/December/1991, in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to ensure that
adequate resources were provided for the preparation of the Conference during the biennium
1992-1993,
Desiring to ensure the maximum representation by Governments, especially of the least
developed countries, in the regional preparatory process and in the Conference,
1. Requests the Economic and Social Council to reconsider the budget envisaged for the
Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, on the basis
of a report of the Secretary-General outlining resource requirements for regional and
interregional preparatory activities, public information activities and for the Conference
itself;
2. Urges Governments, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations
and individuals to contribute extrabudgetary resources to the trust fund established by
the Secretary-General for the preparations of the Conference, especially for the
participation of representatives of the least developed countries in regional meetings and
in the Conference;
3. Urges Governments, international organizations and multilateral financial
institutions to provide assistance to the least developed countries for their preparatory
activities at the national level;
E
Documentation
1. Decides that the documentation for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for
Equality, Development and Peace, will include:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the second review and appraisal of the
implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women;
(b) Draft final document (Platform for Action);
(c) Update of the World Survey on the Role of Women in Development;
(d) Update of The World's Women: Trends and Statistics;
(e) Updated compendium on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women;
(f) Report of the Secretary-General on the outcome of regional preparatory meetings for
the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace;
(g) Relevant sections of final documents emanating from the United Nations Conference
on Environment and Development, the World Conference on Human Rights and the International
Conference on Population and Development.

4. The Commission considered item 3 of its agenda at its 1st, 4th and 6th/meetings, on
11, 13 and 16/March/1991. It had before it the following documents:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the preparation of the system-wide medium-term
plan for the advancement of women for the period/1996-2001 (E/1992/6);
(b) Report of the Secretary-General on improvement of the status of women in the
Secretariat (E/CN.6/1992/11);
(c) Note by the Secretary-General on proposed revisions to the medium-term plan for the
period/1992-1997 (E/CN.6/1992/12).
In addition the Commission had before it for information the report of
the/Secretary-General on the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat
(A/46/377).
5. In introducing the item, the Director of the Division for the Advancement of Women
stated that, as the period of the medium-term plan had just begun, the Secretariat had
proposed only minor technical revisions to the plan (see E/CN.6/1992/12). She explained
that the organizations of the United Nations system coordinated their work substantively
through a system-wide medium-term plan for women and development, which had been agreed
upon by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution/1987/86 and covered the period
1990-1995. The outline for the next plan, covering the period 1996-2001, was before the
Commission.
6. The Coordinator, Focal Point for Women, Office of Human Resources Management,
informed the Commission of the progress made towards improving the status of women in the
Secretariat, including findings by an external consultant relating to barriers to the
advancement of women and elements of an action programme to improve their status. She
noted that her post had been regularized and her office reinforced by the addition of a
staff member at the General Service level.
Improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat
7. Several representatives expressed their concern that, although the statistical
update contained in the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.6/1992/11) showed that the
number of women in the Secretariat had increased, the target set for 1990 had not been
achieved by the end of 1991 and women were not being recruited at a sufficient rate to
meet the United Nations target of 35 per cent of women in/Professional posts by 1995, as
called for by the General Assembly in its resolutions/45/125 and 45/239/C. Several
representatives welcomed the study of the barriers to the advancement of women in the
United Nations, the findings of which would be made available to the General Assembly at
its forty-seventh session, and the programme of
action for the advancement of women in the Secretariat for the period 1991-1995. They
noted the underrepresentation of women, particularly from certain regions. One
representative, on behalf of a group of countries, noted that her region was not mentioned
in the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.6/1992/11). There existed a level - in
practice the/P-4 level - above which Professional women found it difficult to advance
within the Secretariat.
Representatives expressed their wish to examine the study and the detailed programme
activities, including monitoring procedures and a timetable for their completion.
8. Several representatives suggested that Member States promote and nominate women for
high-level posts. To identify qualified female candidates, the creation of a national
roster for women candidates was suggested. One representative stressed that child-care
facilities, parental leave and flexible working hours were prerequisites for establishing
equal opportunities for women. For the successful implementation of the new action plan
for 1991-1995, a visible commitment by the Secretary-General was needed.
9. Several representatives expressed their concern that there was a need for the post
of the head of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs to be filled and
expressed the hope that the post would be filled by a woman.
10. Several representatives expressed concern that the first phase of the
reorganization of the Secretariat being undertaken by the Secretary-General had not
increased the number of women at higher decision-making levels. They noted that the
restructuring of the Secretariat should also aim at improving the representation and the
status of women in the Secretariat. One representative expressed the hope that the current
recruitment freeze would not be a barrier for women from non-represented and
underrepresented countries. Representatives expressed the hope that more women would be
appointed to senior positions in the Secretariat in the next stage of restructuring.
11. One representative, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, suggested changes
to the outline of the system-wide medium-term plan for the advancement of women for the
period 1996-2001, proposed by the Secretary-General (E/1992/6). Issues of national
machinery should be placed under programme/1 (Elimination of legal and attitudinal forms
of discrimination); subprogramme/1.2 should be entitled "Strengthening the role and
status of women in the family and society"; and the issue of equal pay should be
dealt with under programme/2 (Productive resources, income and employment).
ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION
Improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat
12. At the 4th meeting, on 13/March, the representative of Finland, on behalf of
Australia,/34/ Austria, the Bahamas, Belgium,/34/ Brazil, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark,/34/
Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, Greece,/34/ the Netherlands, New/Zealand,/34/ Nigeria, Poland,
Portugal,/34/ Spain, Sweden,/34/ the United States of America and Venezuela, subsequently
joined by Norway,/34/ introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.4) entitled
"Improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat".
13. At the 6th meeting, on 16/March, the Commission had before it a revised draft
resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.4/Rev.1), entitled "Improvement of the status of women in
the Secretariat", submitted by the original sponsors joined by Algeria/34/ and
Morocco, and which included the following changes:
(a) The fourth and fifth preambular paragraphs, which had read:
"Bearing in mind the goal of achieving by the end of 1995 and overall
participation rate of women of 35/per/cent of all posts subject to geographical
distribution, set in General Assembly resolutions 45/125 of 14/December/1990 and 45/239/C
of 21/December/1990, and a 25/per/cent participation rate of women in posts at the D-1
level and above, set in resolution 45/239/C,
"Also bearing in mind that the visible commitment of the Secretary-General is
essential to the achievement of the targets set by the General Assembly on the overall
participation of women of 35/per/cent by the end of 1995, as well as the target of
25/per/cent at the D-1 level and above".
were revised to read:
"Bearing in mind the goal of achieving by 1995 an overall participation rate of
women of 35/per/cent of all posts subject to geographical distribution, set by the General
Assembly in resolutions 45/125 of 14/December/1990 and 45/239/C of 21/December/1990, and a
participation rate of women in posts at the D-1 level and above, set by the Assembly in
resolution 45/239/C, at 25/per/cent of the total within the overall participation rate of
women of 35/per/cent in posts subject to geographical distribution;
"Also bearing in mind that a visible commitment of the Secretary-General is
essential to the achievement of the targets set by the General Assembly of overall
participation rate of women of 35/per/cent, and, at the D-1 level and above, of
25/per/cent by 1995";
(b) Operative paragraph/2, which had read:
"2. Calls upon the Secretary-General to appoint women to senior policy-level and
decision-making posts in his next appointment";
was revised to read:
"2. Urges the Secretary-General to appoint women to senior policy-level and
decision-making posts in his next appointments, and to achieve the targets set for the
Secretariat by 1995";
(c) In operative paragraph/3, the words "Calls upon" were replaced by the
word "Urges";
(d) In operative paragraph/4, the words "taking into consideration the need to
increase the representation of women from countries with a low or no representation of
women, especially from the developing countries" were added at the end of the
paragraph;
(e) In operative paragraph/7, the words "the findings of" were inserted
between the words "ensure that" and "the comprehensive study".
14. At the same meeting, Indonesia and Ireland/34/ joined in sponsoring the revised
draft resolution.
15. Also at the same meeting, the Commission adopted the revised draft resolution (see
chap./I, sect./A, draft resolution/I).

16. The Commission considered item 4 of its agenda jointly with agenda item/6
(Preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development
and Peace)/35/ at its 1st to 6th, 8th and 12th to 14th meetings, from 11 to 13, 16, 17, 19
and 20/March/1992. It had before it the following documents:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the system-wide monitoring of progress made in
the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women
(E/CN.6/1992/2);
(b) Report of the Secretary-General on violence against women in all its forms
(E/CN.6/1992/4);
(c) Report of the Secretary-General on physical violence against detained women that is
specific to their sex (E/CN.6/1992/5);
(d) Note by the Secretary-General on the situation of Palestinian women and children
(E/CN.6/1992/6);
(e) Draft resolution entitled "Communications concerning the status of women"
(E/CN.6/1992/L.2);
(f) Note by the Secretariat on communications concerning the status of women
(E/CN.6/1992/CRP.3).
17. In addition, the following documents were available to the Commission for its
information:
(a) Report of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on its
tenth session (A/46/38);
(b) Report of the Human Rights Committee (A/46/40);
(c) Report of the Secretary-General on progress made in the preparations for the
International Year of the Family (A/46/362 and Corr.1);
(d) Report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the Nairobi
Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women to the year 2000 (A/46/439);
(e) Report of the Secretary-General on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms
of Discrimination against Women (A/46/462);
(f) Report of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its fifth
session (E/1991/23 and Corr.1);
(g) Note by the Secretary-General on the results of the eleventh session of the
Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (E/CN.6/1992/CRP.2).
18. The Director of the Division for the Advancement of Women introduced the item. She
stressed in particular the need to review the preparation of the reports of the
Secretary-General on the system-wide monitoring of progress made in the implementation of
the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women (E/CN.6/1992/2) and on
physical violence against detained women that is specific to their sex (E/CN.6/1992/5).
19. A few representatives expressed interest in the wide variety of information
contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the system-wide monitoring of progress
made in the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement
of Women (E/CN.6/1992/2) but suggested that it would be more useful if the report were
more focused and forward-looking. Several representatives expressed their support for
effective coordination between organizations of the United Nations system in the
implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies.
Violence against women in all its forms
20. Many representatives expressed concern about violence against women. Some spoke of
its consequences, while others described measures undertaken to combat the problem. It was
mentioned that violence against women was among the major obstacles for the advancement of
women and for equality, and that the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for
Equality, Development and Peace, should be asked to include the issue of violence in
setting specific goals to be achieved by the year 2000. Some representatives said that it
would be dangerous to separate violence from the overall context of other equally
important factors that undermined the status of women in society.
21. Most of the representatives considered violence against women within the context of
human rights violations. Several representatives noted that the recommendation of the
Expert Group Meeting on Violence against Women for the appointment of a special thematic
rapporteur (see E/CN.6/1992/4, annex) was interesting, and would require close
collaboration between the Commission and the Committee on the Elimination of
Discrimination against Women. Whereas one representative took the view that a rapporteur
could report to both the Commission on the Status of Women and the Commission on Human
Rights, thus stressing that violence against women also violated human rights, others said
that the prerequisite for such a mandate was consensus support.
22. Many representatives referred to and supported the draft declaration on violence
against women proposed by the Expert Group Meeting (see E/CN.6/1992/4, appendix). Many
were of the view that the declaration required further elaboration and revision. Some
expressed the view that the definition of violence required further work in order to
eliminate inconsistencies and ambiguities. Some representatives considered that a working
group should be formed to continue the work on a draft declaration, taking into account
the text proposed by the Expert Group Meeting.
Physical violence against detained women specific to their sex
23. A number of representatives drew attention to the importance of the issue of
physical violence against detained women. Some stated that the necessary measures had been
taken in their countries to prevent such occurrences. One representative noted that, in
her country, not all visitors, as mentioned in the report of the Secretary-General
(E/CN.6/1992/5, para./5.3), but only male visitors who visited female prisoners, had to be
accompanied by an officer throughout the visit.
Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women
24. Many representatives and observers referred to the prevailing difficult situation
of Palestinian women in the occupied territories. A few representatives expressed concern
that the occupying power had not accepted the visit of a consultant to study the actual
conditions of Palestinian women, thus impeding the preparation of the report requested by
the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1991/19. One representative stated that
the occupying power should be called upon to review its position and join the current
international efforts to improve the situation of Palestinian women and to bring peace to
the region. Another representative considered that the issue should be addressed in
accordance with the United Nations practice of addressing violations of human rights,
which included, for example, the appointment of a special rapporteur, the establishment of
a group of experts or hearings. One observer stressed the need for more information on the
situation.
Women and children under apartheid
25. Several representatives mentioned the positive changes in dismantling the apartheid
regime in South Africa, but drew the attention of the Commission to the continuation of
double discrimination affecting women. They appealed to the international community to
continue to stand against apartheid until a united, democratic South Africa was achieved
and to encourage the Government of South Africa to take measures to ensure that women were
included in the development process of their country.
International Year of the Family
26. Several representatives expressed concern about the International Year of the
Family and urged the Commission to put forward the concept of equality of men and women in
the family as a basic concept, since the family was undergoing evolutionary changes and
should be considered in its variety of forms and present day realities. The International
Year of the Family should focus on the relationship between men and women both within the
family unit and within the concept of partnership. In addition, the concept of the
socialization process in childhood with regard to gender-based biases could be taken into
consideration. One representative, on behalf of a group of countries, stressed the need
for responsible fatherhood, while focusing on equality and measures to conciliate family
and working life for the benefit of women and men.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
27. Many representatives stated that the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women contained a set of principles to safeguard the rights of
women and were of direct relevance to the implementation of the Forward-looking
Strategies. A few representatives and observers considered that reservations to the
substantial provisions of the Convention demonstrated a lack of responsibility on the part
of Governments and suggested that the Commission might consider the idea of seeking an
advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the compatibility of
reservations with the object and purpose of the Convention. Many representatives said that
the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women had made a positive
contribution to the policy of the advancement of women and supported/its request for
extended or additional meeting time and for increased resources to deal with the backlog
of reports awaiting consideration. A few non-governmental organizations stressed the need
for raising awareness of the Convention at the grass-roots level and suggested a stronger
role for the Commission regarding the Convention.
World Conference on Human Rights
28. As part of mainstreaming women's concerns, many representatives urged the
Commission to make its contribution to the agenda of the World Conference on Human Rights,
to be held in 1993 and supported the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination
of Discrimination against Women on the preparations for the World Conference on Human
Rights. One representative stated that the issue of violence against women should be
included in the World Conference on Human Rights. Another stated that the World Conference
on Human Rights was relevant to the preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women.
Still another stated that an assessment of key issues from a gender perspective would be
an important step towards the integration of women's rights into the human rights work of
the United Nations. One representative supported the request of the Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women that the issue of reservations to human rights
conventions be raised at the World Conference on Human Rights.
Communications concerning the status of women
29. On 11 and 12 March 1992, a list of confidential communications on the status of
women (S./W. Communications list No./26 and Add.1) was distributed in a sealed envelope to
the representatives of each State member of the Commission.
30. At its 6th/meeting, on 16/March, the Commission appointed a Working Group on
Communications concerning the Status of Women. The Working Group held three closed
meetings.
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31. The Working Group submitted its report to the Commission at a closed meeting.
32. Many representatives considered the communications procedure a useful mechanism for
identifying discrimination against women and for monitoring the observance of the rights
of women and stated that it should be reviewed with a view to strengthening it and making
it more transparent, rather than creating
a new procedure. They also considered that, through an enhanced communications
procedure, the Commission could develop appropriate measures to prevent and remedy
discrimination. Other representatives suggested more publicity for this mechanism, the
possibility of arranging for the meetings of the Working Group on Communications before
the Commission's sessions and closer cooperation with States, greater coordination between
the bodies of the United Nations system and more clearly defined criteria for the
selection of communications.
33. On 18 March, the representative of Chile, on behalf of the members of the Working
Group on Communications concerning the Status of Women, introduced the report of the
Working Group in a closed meeting of the Commission. At the same meeting, the Commission
decided to adopt the report of the Working Group, as orally amended, and to include it in
its entirety in the report of the Commission.
34. The report of the Working Group read as follows:
"The Working Group on Communications concerning the Status of Women was guided in
its deliberations by the mandate given in Economic and Social Council resolution 1983/27
of 26/May 1983.
"The Group had before it all communications received by the Division for the
Advancement of Women, United Nations Office at Vienna, as well as those that had been
extracted from the confidential list of communications concerning human rights received by
the Division from the Centre for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva.
"The Working Group noted among the communications received cases of violence
against women, exercised especially by the army, security and occupation forces, and
discrimination with regard to equality in women's working life.
"Having considered the small number of communications contained in the
confidential list, namely five, the Working Group took the view that the number was not
sufficient to enable it to identify trends that revealed a consistent pattern of reliably
attested injustice and discriminatory practices against women. However, when account was
taken of the reports of the Working Group on Communications at previous sessions, a
recurrence of violence against women and discrimination with regard to equality in women's
working life was observed. It was also noted that only some Governments provided replies.
"The Working Group drew the Commission's attention to the current communications
procedure and proposed that the Commission consider ways of improving the mechanism. It
also proposed increased publicity for the existing communications mechanism within the
Commission on the Status of Women. Furthermore, the Working Group drew the Commission's
attention to the importance of concerned Governments providing replies to the
communications they received."
ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION
Women and children under apartheid
35. At the 6th meeting, on 16 March, the observer for Algeria,/36/ on behalf of the
African States that are members of the Commission, introduced a draft resolution
(E/CN.6/1992/L.5) entitled "Women and children under apartheid".
36. At the 13th meeting, on 20 March, it was announced that the draft resolution
(E/CN.6/1992/L.5) had been submitted by Nigeria, on behalf of the States Members of the
United Nations that are members of the Group of/77.
37. At the same meeting, the representative of Nigeria, on behalf of the sponsors,
orally revised the draft resolution, as follows:
(a) In the ninth preambular paragraph and in operative paragraph/6, the word
"non-racial" was replaced by the word "non-racist";
(b) In operative paragraph 5, the words "under apartheid" were added at the
end of the paragraph.
38. At the same meeting, the Deputy Director of the Division for the Advancement of
Women made a statement on the programme budget implications of the draft resolution.
39. Also at the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as orally
revised, by a roll-call vote of 26 to 1, with 14 abstentions (see chap./I, sect./A, draft
resolution/II). The voting was as follows:
In favour: Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, China, Cyprus, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia,
Iran (Islamic Republic of), Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Peru, Philippines, Sudan, Thailand, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: United States of America.
Abstaining: Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Co^te d'Ivoire, Czechoslovakia, Finland, France,
Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Spain.
40. Before the draft resolution was adopted, statements were made by the representative
of the United States of America and the observer for Portugal (on behalf of the States
Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Economic Community); after
it was adopted the representative of Austria made a statement.
Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women
41. At the 6th meeting, on 16 March, the representative of the Sudan, on behalf of
Algeria,/36/ Bangladesh, Cuba,/36/ Cyprus, Egypt, India, Indonesia, the Islamic Republic
of Iran, Lebanon,/36/ Madagascar, Malaysia, Morocco, the Philippines, the Sudan,
Tunisia,/36/ the United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen,/36/ Zambia and Zimbabwe, subsequently
joined by Uganda, introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.6) entitled "The
situation of and assistance to Palestinian women".
42. At the 13th meeting, on 20 March, it was announced that the draft resolution
(E/CN.6/1992/L.6) had been submitted by Nigeria, on behalf of the States Members of the
United Nations that are members of the Group of 77.
43. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, by a roll-call
vote of 29 to 1 with 11 abstentions (see chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution III). The
voting was as follows:
In favour: Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, China, Cyprus, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland,
Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico,
Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Spain, Sudan, Thailand, Uganda, United
Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: United States of America.
Abstaining: Bulgaria, Canada, Co^te d'Ivoire, Czechoslovakia, France, Italy, Japan,
Netherlands, Poland, Russian Federation, Rwanda.
44. Before the draft resolution was adopted, statements were made by the representative
of the United States of America and the observer for Israel; after it was adopted,
statements were made by the representatives of the Netherlands, Japan, Italy and France.
45. The representative of Brazil, speaking on behalf of the Latin American and
Caribbean States that are members of the Commission, expressed their support for the
process of negotiations on peace in the Middle East and emphasized that they would have
liked an explicit reference to that effect included in the resolution.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
46. At the 8th meeting, on 17 March, the representative of Italy, on behalf of
Australia,/36/ Austria, Denmark,/36/ Egypt, Finland, Ghana, Italy, the Philippines,
Portugal,/36/ Thailand and Venezuela, subsequently joined by Canada, Chile, Ecuador,
Germany,/36/ Greece,/36/ Mexico, New Zealand,/36/, Norway,/36/ Spain, Sweden/36/ and
Tunisia,/36/ introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.7) entitled "Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women", which she orally
revised by changing the number "111", in the first preambular paragraph, to
"112" and by replacing, in operative paragraph 4, the words "Also strongly
supports" by the word "Welcomes".
47. At the 13th meeting, on 20 March, the Secretary of the Commission informed the
Commission that, as a result of informal consultations, the words "until the
Committee removes its backlog in considering reports" were to be added at the end of
operative paragraph 2.
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48. At the same meeting, the observer for Yemen proposed an amendment to the last
preambular paragraph, namely, that the words "some of which were made by Islamic
countries" be inserted between the words "reservations" and "and
welcoming".
49. Following statements by the representative of Italy and the Chairperson, the
observer for Yemen withdrew his amendment.
50. At the same meeting, the Deputy Director of the Division for the Advancement of
Women stated that an extension of the twelfth session of the Committee on the Elimination
of Discrimination against Women from 10 days to three weeks would involve
conference-servicing requirements in the amount of $77,200, at full cost, the actual costs
of which would be set against the provision already made under section 32 of the programme
budget for the biennium 1992-1993, in accordance with the existing methodology for
budgeting for conference-servicing requirements in relation to the inclusion of additional
meetings in the calendar of meetings and conferences. It would also require additional
travel requirements for experts, consisting of daily subsistence allowance in the amount
of $40,000 for 1993. Additional requirements arising from the draft resolution to the
extent that they affected future periods would be dealt with in the context of the
respective proposed programme budgets.
51. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as orally revised
(see chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution IV).
52. After the draft resolution was adopted, the representative of the United States of
America made a statement.
Violence against women in all its forms
53. At the 8th meeting, on 17 March, the representative of Canada, on behalf of
Australia,/36/ Canada, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Hungary,/36/ Lebanon,/36/ Morocco, the
Netherlands, Norway,/36/ the Philippines, Portugal,/36/ the Republic of Korea, 36/ Spain,
Sweden,/36/ Switzerland,/36/ Thailand, Turkey,/36/ the United Republic of Tanzania,
Venezuela and Zambia, introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.8) entitled
"Violence against women in all its forms".
54. At the 13th meeting, on 20 March, the Commission had before it a revised draft
resolution, which was submitted by the original sponsors joined by Argentina,/36/ Austria,
the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Co^te/d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark,/36/
Ecuador, France, Greece,/36/ Jamaica, Peru, Poland, the United States of America and
Zimbabwe, and which included the following changes:
(a) In operative paragraph 2, the words "to adopt, strengthen and enforce
legislation prohibiting violence against women and" were inserted between the words
"Urges Member States" and "to take all";
(b) In operative paragraph 4, the word "Welcomes" was replaced by the words
"Takes note of";
(c) In operative paragraph 5, the words "in New York" between the words
"to convene" and "an inter-sessional working group" and the words
"at its forty-eighth session" after the words "to the General
Assembly" were deleted;
(d) Operative paragraph 6, which had read:
"6. Requests the Secretary-General to present a report to the thirty-seventh
session of the Commission on the implications and options of appointing, if necessary, a
special thematic rapporteur on violence against women, including outlining possible terms
of reference";
was replaced by the following text:
"6. Requests Governments, international organizations, non-governmental
organizations, other relevant bodies and academics to continue to undertake research into
the causes of violence against women";
(e) Operative paragraph 7, which had read:
"7. Urges Governments to address violence against women at the Fourth World
Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace (1995) as one of the key
obstacles to women's advancement, including the consideration of medium- and longer-term
measures to eradicate all forms of violence against women";
was revised to read:
"7. Urges Governments to address violence against women at the Fourth World
Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, to be held in 1995, as
one of the major obstacles to women's advancement".
55. At the same meeting, the Deputy Director of the Division for the Advancement of
Women stated that the convening of a five-day inter-sessional working group of the
Commission before the end of 1992 (operative para./5 of the draft resolution) would
involve conference-servicing requirements in the amount of $146,400, at full cost, the
actual costs of which would be set against the provision already made under section 32 of
the programme budget for the biennium 1992-1993, in accordance with the existing
methodology for budgeting for conference-servicing requirements in relation to the
inclusion of additional meetings in the calendar of meetings and conferences. It would
also require costs estimated at $140,000 to cover the travel of participants in the
working group if they are nominated and confirmed in accordance with established
procedure. It would also require travel of one staff member from New York to service the
meeting, at a cost of $5,000.
56. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the revised draft resolution (see chap.
I, sect. A, draft resolution V).
Communications on the status of women
57. The Commission had before it a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.2) entitled
"Communications concerning the status of women", which the Commission, in its
decision 35/103 of 8 March 1991, had decided to defer for consideration at its
thirty-sixth session.
58. At the 8th meeting, on 17 March, the representative of the United States of
America, on behalf of Australia,/36/ Austria, Belgium,/36/ Bulgaria, Canada, Co^te
d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark,/36/ Finland, Morocco, the Netherlands, New
Zealand,/36/ Norway,/36/ Poland, the Russian Federation, Sweden,/36/ Switzerland,/36/
Thailand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,/36/ the United States
of America and Zaire, subsequently joined by Germany, 36/ and Rwanda, introduced a revised
draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.2/Rev.1) entitled "Communications on the status of
women", which read as follows:
"The Economic and Social Council,
"Recalling its resolutions 76/(V) of 5 August 1947 and 304/I (XI) of 14 and
17/July 1950, which form the basis for the mandate of the Commission on the Status of
Women to receive at each of its regular sessions a list of confidential and
non-confidential communications relating to the status of women,
"Taking into consideration its resolution 1983/27 of 26/May/1983, in which it
reaffirmed the mandate of the Commission to consider confidential and non-confidential
communications on the status of women and authorized the Commission to appoint a working
group on communications to consider and prepare a report to the Commission on such
communications,
"Recalling its resolution 1986/29 of 23 May 1986, in which it invited Member
States to report to the Secretary-General on legislative and other measures they have
taken to prevent physical violence against detained women that is specific to their sex,
and requested the Commission to continue to consider communications relating to the status
of women and to make recommendations to the Economic and Social Council, if necessary,
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"Reaffirming that discrimination against women is incompatible with human dignity
and that women and men should participate on the basis of equality, irrespective of race
or creed, in the social, economic and political processes of their countries,
"Recognizing that the mandate of the Commission to consider communications is
crucial to its central role in monitoring and formulating recommendations to implement the
Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, and promotes its ability
to
fulfil other aspects of its mandate regarding the elimination of discrimination against
women,
"Recalling its resolution 1990/8 of 24/May/1990, by which it requested the
Secretary-General to examine, in consultation with Governments, the existing mechanisms
for communications on the status of women, in order to ensure that such communications
receive effective and appropriately coordinated consideration in view of the role of
communications in the work of the Commission, and to report thereon to the Commission at
its thirty-fifth session,
"Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on examining existing
mechanisms for communications on the status of women, which contains a number of valuable
suggestions for improving the efficiency and usefulness of those mechanisms,
"Noting the conclusion of the Working Group on Communications in its report to the
thirty-fifth session of the Commission that while the communications procedure provided a
valuable source of information on the effects of discrimination on the lives of women, it
should be improved to make it more efficient and useful, and that clear criteria for
receiving communications should be given,
"Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on violence against women
in all its forms (E/CN.6/1992/4), which states that through an enhanced communication
procedure, the Commission could be better advised on the many manifestations of violence
against women and develop appropriate measures to encourage Governments to accelerate
their work to prevent and remedy violence,
"1. Reaffirms that the Commission on the Status of Women is empowered to make
recommendations to the Economic and Social Council on what action should be taken on
emerging trends and patterns of discrimination against women revealed by such
communications;
"2. Requests the Secretary-General to publicize widely among international and
national organizations, in particular, women's groups, the existence and scope of the
communication mechanisms of the Commission;
"3. Further requests the Secretary-General to support the activities of the
Commission with regard to its consideration of communications and to ensure proper
coordination of the activities of the Commission in this area and those of the bodies of
the Council, by taking the following action:
"(a) To ensure that the Division for the Advancement of Women of the
United/Nations/Office at Vienna and the Centre for Human Rights coordinate closely so that
all communications received are sent as soon as possible to the appropriate United/Nations
body and to each concerned Member State, and that the respective offices are informed of
the disposition of the communications;
"(b) To encourage the specialized agencies of the United/Nations to provide to the
Commission, through the Division for the Advancement of Women, communications or other
information in their possession that is relevant to discrimination against women;
"(c) To make available to authors of communications any recommendations by the
Commission to the Council on situations brought to the attention of the Commission by the
Working Group on Communications;
"4. Reaffirms that the consideration by the Commission of the communications shall
remain confidential until such time as the Commission may decide to make recommendations
to the Council;
"5. Requests that the Commission, in order to avoid duplication of work, determine
whether a trend or pattern of discrimination against women revealed by communications
should be brought to the attention of another United/Nations body or specialized agency
that might be better able to take appropriate action;
"6. Further requests the Commission to establish an open-ended working group
during its thirty-seventh session to recommend:
"(a) Ways of making the existing procedure for receiving and considering
communications, including the standard of admissibility, more transparent and efficient,
taking into account the report of the Secretary-General to the thirty-fifth session of the
Commission;
"(b) Ways of requesting additional information on a trend or pattern of
discrimination against women when it is needed to enable the Commission to recommend
appropriate action to the Council so that the Commission at its thirty-seventh session may
make appropriate recommendations on these points to the Council;
"7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that any costs resulting from the
activities set out in the present resolution are kept to a minimum and that the activities
are carried out within existing resources."
59. At the 13th meeting, on 20 March, the representative of China, on behalf of China,
the United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe, introduced and orally revised amendments
(E/CN.6/1992/L.19) to the revised draft resolution contained in document
E/CN.6/1992/L.2/Rev.1. The amendments called for:
(a) The replacement, in the second preambular paragraph, of the words "on
communications to consider and prepare a report to the Commission on such
communications" by the words "to consider communications, with a view to
bringing to the attention of the Commission those communications, including the replies of
Governments, which appear to reveal a consistent pattern of reliably attested injustice
and discriminatory practices against women";
(b) The deletion of the third and fifth preambular paragraphs;
(c) The replacement of the seventh preambular paragraph by the following text:
"Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on examining existing
mechanisms for communications on the status of women and the various views expressed by
Governments";
(d) The deletion of the ninth preambular paragraph;
(e) The deletion of operative paragraphs 3 (c) and 6.
60. At the 14th meeting, on 20 March, the Secretary of the Commission read out the
following changes to the revised draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.2/Rev.1), agreed upon
during informal consultations:
(a) In the second preambular paragraph, the words "on communications to consider
and prepare a report to the Commission on such communications" were replaced by the
words "to consider communications, with a view to bringing to the attention of the
Commission those communications, including the replies of Governments, which appear to
reveal a consistent pattern of reliably attested injustice and discriminatory practices
against women";
(b) The third and fifth preambular paragraphs were deleted;
(c) The seventh preambular paragraph was replaced by the following text:
"Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General on examining existing
mechanisms for communications on the status of women and the various views expressed by
Governments";
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(d) The ninth preambular paragraph was deleted;
(e) Operative paragraph 6 was reworded to read as follows:
"6. Further requests the Commission to consider, as appropriate, ways of making
the existing procedure for receiving and considering communications, including the
standard of admissibility, more transparent and efficient, taking into account the report
of the Secretary-General on examining existing mechanisms for communications on the status
of women, which was submitted to the Commission at its thirty-fifth session."
61. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the revised draft resolution
(E/CN.6/1992/L.2/Rev.1), as orally revised (see chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution VI).
62. In the light of the adoption of draft resolution E/CN.6/1992/L.2/Rev.1, the
amendments contained in document E/CN.6/1992/L.19 were withdrawn by the sponsors.
63. After the draft resolution was adopted, statements were made by the representatives
of the United States of America and China.
Advancement of women and the family
64. At the 8th meeting, on 17 March, the observer for Belgium,/36/ on behalf of
Australia,/36/ Austria, Belarus,/36/ Belgium,/36/ Bulgaria, Canada, Czechoslovakia,
Denmark,/36/ Ghana, Greece,/36/ Italy, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Poland,
Portugal,/36/ Spain, Switzerland,/36/ the Russian Federation, Thailand, Venezuela, Zaire
and Zambia, introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.9) entitled "The advancement
of women and the family".
65. At the 12th meeting, on 19 March, the Commission had before it a revised draft
resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.9/Rev.1), which was submitted by the original sponsors joined by
Argentina,/36/ Japan, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The changes in the revised draft resolution
were as follows:
(a) Subparagraph 2 (a), which had read:
"(a) That the family is a changing system of relationships between individuals,
and that society and policies must therefore remain open and adaptable to different forms
of the family";
was revised to read:
"(a) That families are changing systems of relationships between individuals, and
that society and policies must therefore be responsive and receptive to their needs";
(b) Subparagraph 2 (b), which had read:
"(b) That individual rights of women, men and children should be respected equally
and that, in cases of conflict, they should have equal opportunities to assert those
rights";
was revised to read:
"(b) That individual rights of women and men should be respected equally and they
should have equal opportunities to assert those rights";
(c) Subparagraph 2 (f), which had read:
"(f) That partnerships between individuals should be based on flexible and
appropriate forms";
was deleted and subparagraphs/(g) to (k) were relettered (f) to (j).
66. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the revised draft resolution (see chap.
I, sect. C, resolution 36/1).
Inclusion of the question of women in the agendas of forthcoming international meetings
67. At the 8th meeting, on 17 March, the representative of Brazil, on behalf of the
Latin American and Caribbean States that are members of the Commission, subsequently
joined by Egypt, Indonesia, Italy, Morocco, the Philippines and Rwanda, introduced a draft
resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.10) entitled "Women on the agenda of forthcoming
international meetings".
68. At the 12th meeting, on 19 March, the Commission adopted the draft resolution (see
chap. I, sect. C, resolution 36/2).

69. The Commission considered item 5 of its agenda at its 5th to 10th, 12th and
14th/meetings, on 13 and 16 to 20/March/1992. It had before it the following documents:
(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the elimination of de jure and de/facto
discrimination against women (E/CN.6/1992/7);
(b) Report of the Secretary-General on the integration of women in the process of
development (E/CN.6/1992/8);
(c) Report of the Secretary-General on women and the environment (E/CN.6/1992/9);
(d) Report of the Secretary-General on equal participation in all efforts to promote
international cooperation, peace and disarmament (E/CN.6/1992/10).
70. The Director of the Division for the Advancement of Women introduced the item.
Under the priority theme of development, she emphasized that there was a need for new
approaches to improve the participation of women and their integration into the
development process.
71. Many representatives stated that in spite of considerable achievements in the
elimination of de jure discrimination in many countries, discrimination continued to exist
in practice in all countries. Discriminatory practices prevented women from realizing
their potential and affected society as a whole. Many representatives emphasized the
recent achievements in legal equality, including the abolition of discriminatory
provisions in existing laws, the introduction of corresponding amendments and new
anti-discriminatory laws relating to different spheres of life. Several representatives
emphasized that adherence to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women was a signal to countries to review their legislation
according to international standards.
72. Many representatives emphasized that there existed widespread disregard for laws
that protected women's rights. Many representatives and observers emphasized that the laws
needed to be consistently enforced throughout the legal and judicial systems. An important
step in the enforcement of legal rights of women was to increase the knowledge and
awareness of those rights among women themselves, as well as among men. Several
representatives stressed the necessity of organizing nationwide campaigns on legal
literacy, including establishing legal services for women.
73. Several representatives noted that the obstacles to achieving real equality were
rooted in existing stereotypes concerning the role of women in
society and in the persistence of traditional norms. In that respect, many
representatives emphasized that active measures should be taken to eliminate traditional
stereotyping from textbooks and educational curricula. Special attention should be given
to the mass media, which had a critical role in changing people's attitudes. To achieve
real equality a different understanding of parental responsibilities and the equitable
sharing of work in the household was as necessary as child-care facilities. Many
representatives emphasized the importance of diversification of women's choices in
education, training and employment.
74. Many representatives stressed that the concept of equality as expressed in
legislation mainly prohibited present discrimination, but ignored the effects of past
discrimination. Many representatives noted that special temporary measures could be
undertaken to counterbalance the effects of past discrimination in order to reduce or
eliminate discrimination and to facilitate the enforcement of existing anti-discriminatory
legislation.
75. Several representatives noted that in order to help the progressive development of
policy-making in regard to positive action, systematic data collection and exchange of
information on the effectiveness of various programmes and policies was needed. It was
suggested that the Economic Commission for Europe might take new initiatives.
76. Many representatives described their experiences in implementing positive action
programmes. Several representatives stressed that each step in the implementation process
should be matched by careful information campaigns, especially at the community level. It
might be necessary to give greater emphasis to developing educational strategies to ensure
that positive action was properly understood and implemented. Several representatives
noted that obstacles to achieving de facto equality might, however, not be the same in all
countries. A regional approach should be considered.
77. Several representatives reaffirmed the basic role of national and international
machinery in stimulating the implementation of positive action in the framework of their
equality programmes and policies. Positive action programmes should complement, but not
substitute, action aimed at removing the underlying causes of discrimination.
78. Many representatives stressed that the gap between de jure and de facto equality
existed, particularly in the area of decision-making, and especially at the highest
levels. The introduction of quotas or targets was considered an efficient way to close the
gap. Several representatives mentioned that the introduction of quotas was considered a
form of political manipulation and a non-democratic practice. Instead, the issue could be
highlighted through public debates, increased public awareness and information campaigns.
79. Many representatives recalled the crucial importance of the contributions of women
of all ages in all aspects of development. Women's contribution, especially in food and
agriculture, the allocation of women's earnings to the basic needs of their families, and
participation in production and government service, was acknowledged. It was stated that
it would not be possible to solve global problems without improving the role of women in
development and giving due recognition to their contribution.
80. Many representatives stressed the need to take into account the existing
interrelations between women and development and other issues, since women's problems
could not be solved in isolation of those fundamental issues. Several representatives
emphasized the importance of specific interrelations, not only at the macro level such as
poverty, population issues, human rights and democratization, but also at the micro level
such as the productive and nurturing roles of women, or the question of violence. Many
representatives recognized the magnitude of the task and the complexity of integrating
women in development. Concern was expressed about the decade already lost, the slowness of
implementing the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies and the rapidly increasing numbers of
women in poverty. In that connection, many representatives stressed the efforts that would
be required to ensure that peace and human rights were attained to enable women to
participate fully in development. Improving the education of women and ensuring their
participation at all levels and in all areas of decision-making were often considered
essential conditions for women to fulfil their potential in development.
81. Many representatives identified a number of continuing major obstacles to the
effective contribution of women to development. In addition to the problems of the lack of
peace and of structural adjustment, the burden of debt, the continuous deterioration of
commodity prices, and protectionist measures that had resulted in diminishing the
availability of national and international resources for the advancement of women, the
current fundamental changes in a number of societies had to be added. The feminization of
poverty was an issue of growing concern. In rural areas, it was due to the lack of access
to land and credit, and in urban areas to sex segregation in the labour market or to
uncontrolled migration. Those questions were aggravated by health problems and
insufficient education, including the effects of the AIDS epidemic.
82. Many representatives considered it important to strengthen both governmental and
non-governmental institutions concerned with the advancement of women. The strengthening
should be carried out at all levels by training, particularly in entrepreneurship for
women. Cooperation between institutions should be enhanced to ensure greater effectiveness
in their action.
83. Many representatives stressed the increasing need to develop policies and
programmes to rethink the concept of women in development, particularly in relation to the
empowerment of women. That could be assisted by improving the collection of
gender-sensitive and disaggregated statistics and training in gender analysis. Several
representatives stressed the usefulness of incorporating into such efforts a life-course
approach for the advancement of women.
84. Many representatives emphasized the strong linkage between the status of women and
their central role in environmental management and development, and considered that
women's contribution to environmental protection and conservation had not been given
sufficient recognition nor accorded the value it deserved. Some representatives recognized
that sound environmental management and conservation was the basis for sustainable
development for present and future generations. Several representatives noted that, in
rural areas, women were the primary managers of natural resources and had developed
extensive traditional knowledge and skills through daily interaction with the environment.
85. Many representatives stated that international cooperation was essential, and
concerted and determined efforts on the part of Governments and intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations were necessary to meet the challenge of environmentally
sustainable development. Many representatives considered it essential that women's needs,
concerns and contributions were fundamentally incorporated into the planning for the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development and in all its documentation, in
particular, Agenda 21. Some representatives urged Governments to ensure that women were
included in the delegations being sent to that Conference. Other representatives stressed
that future research should be gender-sensitive, and that gender-impact analysis was
important.
86. Many representatives stressed that activities subsequent to the Environment
Conference should be coordinated with the monitoring mechanisms of the Forward-looking
Strategies, the preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women and the
implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women. The Commission should ensure that women's concerns were taken into account in all
multilateral bodies, and that the relevant parts of its report should be sent by the
Commission to the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 46/167.
87. Many representatives observed that women were underrepresented at all levels of
decision-making and lacked the power to affect policies, at either the micro or the macro
level. One representative stated that women's perspective, needs and priorities should be
reflected in the planning and implementation of policies for the environment and
development and that women should participate in debates on the environment.
88. Several representatives considered that development and the alleviation of poverty
should be high priorities for the international community. Poverty continued to restrict
women's capacities to take control of their lives and make a positive contribution to
ecologically sustainable development, particularly in the developing countries, where
environmental degradation had been mainly a function of poverty and lack of information.
89. While one representative considered that donor aid agencies could reinforce action
for sustainable development and for the development of women by linking aid to the level
of the participation of women and to improvement in their status, another representative
was concerned about imposing more
conditions on development assistance. Another representative said that attention should
also be given to the level of the participation of women during the designing and planning
of projects and programmes aimed at protecting and improving the environment.
90. Several representatives stressed the importance of and access to formal and
informal education, vocational training and retraining at all ages, environmentally sound
working conditions, health-care education and hygiene. A few representatives stated that
programmes for environmental protection and women in development should be suited to local
circumstances. Some representatives reported on the existing programmes for afforestation
and waste land development and on the efforts made to deal with desertification, erosion
and pollution, and on research into alternative energy sources to reduce the use of
fuelwood in rural areas. Others informed the Commission of legal reforms and the
establishment of committees to monitor pollution-producing industries.
91. Some representatives said that women should have access to finances, credit and
equal employment opportunities, equal rights to ownership, access to and control over land
and other natural resources and access to information and to environmentally sound
technology. One representative said that the benefits derived by women from programmes
directed at conservation, such as new skills, income generation, confidence-building and
improvement in the standard of living and status, should be documented, shared and
disseminated to the Environment Conference. One observer stressed that the utilization of
women's knowledge in animal husbandry, the use of medicinal plants and the use of land was
essential.
92. One representative commented that the growing world population had contributed to
the loss of natural resources. Another observer emphasized the importance of the role of
women and their right to make decisions in population planning. As activists and leaders,
women were involved in campaigns to promote environmental awareness and protection and
that should be extended to all countries. A few representatives commented on the imbalance
in consumption of global resources and the practice of dumping toxic wastes in developing
countries. Some observers encouraged research in and fairer distribution and transfer of
alternative cleaner technologies, and access by women to those technologies was considered
important. One observer reported on the ecological, genetic, psychological and biological
effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that still affected women and families in the
area; others referred to the effects on the environment of forced migrations and the
conditions during armed conflicts, such as water and energy shortages and destruction of
arable land.
93. Many representatives referred to women's underrepresentation in decision-making
bodies, including those of the United Nations system, and in international negotiations,
and stressed that rapid change was needed to redress the situation.
94. A few representatives emphasized the relationship between women's low participation
in public life and decision-making at the national level and the absence of women from the
peace process at the international level. One representative stated that women could make
a difference in the peace process by creating a more collaborative, less confrontational
atmosphere, according to the findings of a study on women and arms control in her country.
95. A few representatives agreed that when women's participation reached what was
referred to as a critical mass they could change the substance and style of politics. One
representative stated that more research was needed to find a sound basis for enlarging
the access of women to decision-making and to analyse the question of the difference an
increased participation of women would make to the outcome of politics. A few
representatives noted that, owing to the unavailability of data, the report was based
mainly on the experience of women from developed countries, and more information on women
in developing countries would be helpful in the future. One representative stressed in
that connection the importance of women's active participation in elections as both
candidates and voters, political education for women, enjoyment of civil rights and
responsibilities, and training contestants for participation in political parties. Another
representative noted important correlations between the participation of women in
decision-making and education, transparency of the political system, democracy, and clear
criteria for selecting candidates and officials.
96. Many representatives referred to new dimensions and major changes in international
relations. They were characterized on the one hand by disintegration of political systems,
formation of new States, emerging problems related to external debt, threats to the
environment, unemployment, unusual numbers of refugees, AIDS, prostitution of minors, drug
trafficking, terrorism, armed conflicts, and poverty, and on the other hand by democratic
changes in some parts of the world, optimism accompanying the end of the cold war and
peace efforts in the Middle East, and attempts to establish a just new international
order, based on law, peace, stability and social progress. Women should be fully involved
in ongoing processes, reforms and democratization.
97. Many representatives stressed the need for women's equal participation in all peace
efforts, including national and international decision-making, enabling women's
contribution to conflict resolution, security, applicability of the principles of the
Charter of the United Nations and international law, policy formulation and creation of
democratic systems. Attention should be given to measures aimed at accelerated
participation of women in resolving global problems, such as sustainable development,
environment, population, science and technology, and poverty alleviation, in order to make
a decisive contribution to world peace and decision-making by the year 2000. One
representative noted the 30 per cent involvement of female United Nations staff in the
peace process in Namibia, and expressed the hope that women would continue to play
important roles in future United Nations peace-keeping missions. One representative
referred to the World Conference on Human Rights, to be held in 1993, as a good
opportunity for raising that issue at the international level. Some representatives
mentioned the new commitments to women's equality that had been introduced at the
Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
98. Attention was drawn by many representatives to the situation of women and children
in the areas affected by armed conflicts, foreign occupation, civil unrest, violations of
human rights, oppression and drought. One representative expressed concern about the fact
that women local leaders, administrators and social workers were victims of direct acts of
violence related to drug trafficking. Many representatives stated that women's rights
could not be realized under foreign domination as it hindered women's advancement. One
representative referred to the situation of Palestinian women and children, and women and
children in South Africa and southern Lebanon. One representative addressed the shortage
of food and medicine in Iraq, owing to economic sanctions, and its consequences for women
and children. One representative requested the Secretary-General to send a group of
experts to southern Lebanon and to report on the situation of women and children to the
Commission at its thirty-seventh session. Some representatives referred to the new roles
that women were assuming under emergency situations: assisting their families,
contributing to the national economy, and participating in political life, including
decision-making bodies and negotiations at a high level.
99. Many representatives noted women's important role in economic and social
restructuring as times of transformation and economic crisis require the utilization of
all human resources. Although democratic evolution should, by definition, allow the full
participation of women, the experience in Eastern Europe had shown that women's
participation in peace, disarmament and international cooperation remained very low. It
was stated that some women were tired by daily hardship and stress, and were therefore
reluctant to participate in politics, decision-making bodies, trade unions or cultural
associations. However, many representatives noted the various women's activities emerging
under new circumstances, such as new lobbies, pressure groups and citizens' movements,
acting towards transparency of the administration, direct democracy, free choice of school
system, reform of institutions, empowerment of women, encouragement of female political
candidates and elaboration of new laws. Some representatives referred to income-generating
projects that were helping to develop managerial skills and sensitize policy makers to
gender equality, and to train for decision-making and for education on peace and equality
within families. Some obstacles to the participation of women in decision-making, such as
the lack of education, multiple roles, archaic attitudes, traditions, and limited access
to health and income, were mentioned in that connection.
100. Many representatives stressed that peace should be given special attention as one
of the priority themes of the forthcoming World Conference on Women. One representative
suggested that studies should be undertaken to evaluate the impact of women on
peace-making by the year 2000.
ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION
Advancement of women and human rights
101. At the 10th meeting, on 18 March, the representative of Spain, on behalf of
Australia,/37/ Belgium,/37/ Czechoslovakia, Denmark,/37/ Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France,
Germany, 37/ Ghana, Greece, 37/ Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, 37/ the Philippines,
Portugal, 37/ the Russian Federation, Spain, Sweden 37/ and Switzerland, 37/ subsequently
joined by Austria, Canada, Ireland, 37/ Morocco, Peru, Poland, Thailand and Venezuela,
introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.14) entitled "Advancement of women and
human rights".
102. At the 13th meeting, on 20 March, the Secretary of the Commission informed the
Commission that, as a result of informal consultations, it had been agreed to replace the
word "particular" in operative paragraph 2 by the word "adequate".
103. At the same meeting, the Deputy Director of the Division for the Advancement of
Women stated that the conference-servicing costs at full cost for four meetings of an
open-ended in-session working group would amount to $99,500, the actual costs of which
would be set against the provision already made under section 32 of the programme budget
for the biennium 1992-1993, in accordance with the existing methodology for budgeting for
conference-servicing requirements in relation to the inclusion of additional meetings in
the calendar of meetings and conferences.
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104. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as orally
revised (see chap. I, sect. A, draft resolution VII).
Women in decision-making bodies
105. At the 10th meeting, on 18 March, the representative of Italy, on behalf of
Austria, Denmark,/37/ Egypt, France, Germany,/37/ Ghana, Greece,/37/ Italy, Jamaica,
Mexico, the Philippines, Portugal,/37/ Spain, Switzerland,/37/ Venezuela and Zambia,
subsequently joined by the Bahamas, Belarus,/37/ Chile, Co^te d'Ivoire, Czechoslovakia,
Ecuador, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon,/37/ Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey,/37/
the United Republic of Tanzania, the United States of America, Yemen/37/ and Zaire,
introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.15) entitled "Women in decision-making
bodies".
106. At the 12th meeting, on 19 March, the Secretary of the Commission read out the
following revisions to the draft resolution agreed upon during informal consultations:
(a) In the fourth preambular paragraph, the words "absent from" were replaced
by the words "underrepresented in";
(b) In operative paragraph 1, the word "gender" was inserted between the
words "full" and "equality" and the words "for women" at the
end of the paragraph were deleted;
(c) In operative paragraph 2, the word "provide" was replaced by the words
"put forward";
(d) In operative paragraph 3, the word "highest" was replaced by the word
"high-level".
107. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as orally
revised (see chap. I, sect. C, resolution 36/3).
Integration of elderly women into development
108. At the 10th meeting, on 18 March, the representative of France, on behalf of
Austria, Co^te d'Ivoire, France, Ghana, Greece,/37/ Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan,
Poland, Portugal,/37/ Rwanda, Spain, Tunisia/37/ and Zaire, introduced a draft resolution
(E/CN.6/1992/L.16) (reissued) entitled "Integration of elderly women into
development".
109. At the 13th meeting, on 20 March, the Commission had before it a revised draft
resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.16/Rev.1) sponsored by the Bahamas, Co^te d'Ivoire,
Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, Ghana, Greece,/37/ Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan,
Poland, Portugal,/37/ Rwanda, Spain, Tunisia,/37/ the United States of America and Zaire,
subsequently joined by Australia,/37/ the United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen/37/ which
included the following change:
Operative paragraph 2, which had read:
"Also invites the Secretary-General to undertake a study of the condition of
elderly women, to be incorporated in future appraisals of the implementation of the
International Plan of Action on Ageing and the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies",
was revised to read:
"Calls upon the Secretary-General to compile within existing resources a
comprehensive annotated bibliography on the status of elderly women so that research
already being conducted world wide can be incorporated in future assessments".
110. At the same meeting, the Deputy Director of the Division for the Advancement of
Women stated that the implementation of operative paragraph 11 of the draft resolution
would require nine work-months of consultancy, at a cost of $45,000, of which $15,000
could be absorbed within consultancy provisions already made under section 21C of the
programme budget for the biennium 1992-1993.
111. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the revised draft resolution (see
chap. I, sect. C, resolution 36/4).
Women and development
112. At the 10th meeting, on 18 March, the representative of Nigeria, on behalf of the
States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77, introduced a
draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.11) entitled "Women and development".
113. At the 14th meeting, on 20 March, the representative of Nigeria, on behalf of the
sponsors, made a statement.
114. At the same meeting, Australia, 37/ Italy, New Zealand, 37/ and Turkey,/37/ joined
in sponsoring the draft resolution.
115. Also at the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, by a
roll-call vote of 42 to 1 (see chap. I, sect. C, resolution 36/5). The voting was as
follows:
In favour: Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Co^te
d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Ghana, India,
Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico,
Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Russian Federation,
Rwanda, Spain, Sudan, Thailand, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Zaire,
Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Against: United States of America.
Abstaining: None.
116. Before the draft resolution was adopted, the representative of the United States
of America made a statement.
117. The Chairperson of the Commission made a statement.
Women and the environment
118. At the 10th meeting, on 18 March, the representative of Nigeria, on behalf of the
States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Group of 77, introduced a
draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.12) entitled "Women and the environment", which
read as follows:
"The Commission on the Status of Women,
"Recalling the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, in
particular paragraphs 224 to 227, which emphasize the impact upon women of environmental
degradation and the importance of the awareness of women and women's organizations of
environmental issues and of the enhancement of women's capacity to participate at all
levels in the management of their environment,
"Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/15, in which the
Council adopted the recommendations and conclusions arising from the first review and
appraisal of the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women,
"Bearing in mind the preparations for the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development, to be held at Rio de Janeiro from 1 to 12/June/1992, on the basis of
General Assembly resolution 44/228,
"Taking into account all relevant resolutions of the General Assembly, in
particular resolution 46/167 on women, environment, population and sustainable
development,
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"Taking note of the conclusions and recommendations of the Global Assembly of
Women and the Environment: Partners in Life, held at Miami, Florida, from 4/to/8/November
1991,
"Expressing its concern about the global environmental crisis and its conviction
that women have a very important role to play in the protection of the environment and of
natural resources and in the promotion of sustainable development,
"Gravely concerned that the major cause of the continuing deterioration of the
global environment is an unsustainable pattern of production and consumption, particularly
in developed countries,
"Aware of the high level of resources and technology needed to implement
programmes and projects aimed at the promotion of environmentally sound development,
"Stressing the importance of the international transfer of appropriate
technologies to the promotion of sound environment and sustainable development,
"Recognizing that the cooperation and assistance of as well as the work performed
by the non-governmental organizations are efficient mechanisms in the struggle for
protecting and preserving the environment and for promoting the full participation of
women in the management of the environment,
"1. Urges Governments to adopt laws, policies and programmes to promote the
preservation of the environment in their countries, in the interest of present and future
populations and of humankind;
"2. Also urges national, State and local governments, as well as governmental and
non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to promote a higher level of
involvement of women in the planning, implementation and evaluation of policies,
programmes and action aiming at environmental protection, the conservation of natural
resources and economic development;
"3. Urges Governments to promote within their programmes of environmental
management, specific activities aimed at the education and professional and leadership
training of women in environmental issues;
"4. Calls for new and additional funds to finance the promotion of sustainable
development in developing countries in general and in the least developed countries in
particular, channelled by means of democratic and appropriate institutional mechanisms and
serving the local and domestic environmental issues of those countries;
"5. Also calls for the active participation of women in the management of funds
allocated to the protection of the environment and to economic development;
"6. Calls upon Governments, mainly in developed countries, as well as governmental
and non-governmental organizations, to promote change in production policies and
consumption habits and to promote the development and transfer of less polluting
technologies that make more efficient use of energy and non-renewable resources;
"7. Reminds Governments, governmental and non-governmental organizations, as well
as transnational corporations, of the necessity of facilitating the access of women in
developing countries to environmentally friendly appropriate technologies;
"8. Invites the Governments of donor countries, international organizations and
relevant non-governmental organizations to strengthen their cooperation with and
assistance to developing countries, with a view to the preservation of the environment and
the promotion of sustainable development in those countries;
"9. Urges Governments to put more emphasis on linkages between environmental
management and underlying problems (poverty, population growth and distribution,
unsanitary living conditions, and lack of water, among others) and on action to deal with
such problems;
"10. Requests national Governments and all governmental and non-governmental
organizations to ensure the equitable participation of women in their delegations to the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development;
"11. Requests the Secretary-General to monitor the progress made in the area of
women and the environment and to submit a review and appraisal on the subject to the
Commission at its thirty-eighth session, to serve as a working document in the
preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development
and Peace, in 1995."
119. At the 13th meeting, on 20 March, the Commission had before it a revised draft
resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.12/Rev.1), which included the following changes:
(a) The seventh preambular paragraph was replaced by the following text:
"Gravely concerned that major causes of the continuing deterioration of the global
environment are the unsustainable pattern of production and consumption, particularly in
developed countries, and increasing poverty in many developing countries";
(b) The eighth preambular paragraph was replaced by the following text:
"Aware that traditional and advanced technologies are needed to implement
programmes and projects aimed at the promotion of environmentally sound development";
(c) In operative paragraph 1, the words "women's participation in" were
inserted between the words "to promote" and "the preservation";
(d) Operative paragraph 4 was replaced by the following text:
"4. Requests Governments and multilateral financial institutions to promote new
and additional financial resources for the promotion of women's participation in
sustainable development in the developing countries in general and in the least developed
countries in particular, channelled by means of democratic and appropriate institutional
mechanisms responsive to the priorities of women in the target communities";
(e) In operative paragraph 5, the word "economic" was replaced by the word
"sustainable";
(f) Operative paragraph 6 was replaced by the following text:
"6. Calls upon Governments, non-governmental organizations and other social
groups, women's organizations in particular, to promote the necessary changes in
production policies and consumption habits, mainly in developed countries, and also to
promote the development of effective international cooperation in the areas of research,
development and the application of environmentally sound technologies";
(g) Operative paragraph 8 was replaced by the following text:
"8. Invites the Governments of donor countries, international organizations and
relevant non-governmental organizations to ensure that greater attention is given to
women's contributions to environmental protection and management in their cooperation with
and assistance to developing countries, with a view to preserving the environment and
promoting sustainable development in those countries";
(h) A new operative paragraph 11 was inserted, which read as follows:
"11. Requests the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development, at its fourth session, to give full and substantive
consideration to the recommendations of the Commission concerning women and the
environment, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 46/167";
(i) Existing operative paragraph 11 was renumbered accordingly.
120. Also at the 13th meeting, the representative of Nigeria, on behalf of the
sponsors, made the following oral revisions:
(a) In operative paragraph 4, the word "promote" was replaced by the word
"provide";
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(b) In operative paragraph 7, the word "friendly" was replaced by the word
"sound";
121. At the same meeting, the Deputy Director of the Division for the Advancement of
Women stated that the Division had been informed that the United Nations Environment
Programme might provide support and, on that assumption, the draft resolution would not
have programme budget implications.
122. Also at the same meeting, the Commission adopted the revised draft resolution, as
orally revised (see chap. I, sect. C, resolution 36/6).
123. After the draft resolution was adopted, the representative of the United States of
America made a statement.
Advancement of women and acts of terrorism against women
124. At the 10th meeting, on 18 March, the representative of Peru, on behalf of
Argentina,/37/ the Bahamas, Bolivia,/37/ Chile, Ecuador, Peru, the Philippines, Poland,
Uruguay/37/ and Venezuela, introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.17).
125. At the 12th meeting, on 19 March, the Commission had before it a revised draft
resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.17/Rev.1) entitled "Terrorism and the status of
women", which was submitted by the original sponsors joined by Colombia, India,
Lebanon, 37/ Pakistan and Spain, and which included the following changes:
(a) A new first preambular paragraph was inserted, which read:
"Taking into account the fact that the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women have identified violence against women as one of the major obstacles
to the achievement of the objectives of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality,
Development and Peace";
(b) Operative paragraph 2, which had read:
"Expresses its profound concern at the persistent violation of human rights by
armed groups and by drug traffickers who terrorize the population and threaten the safety
and lives of women";
was revised to read:
"Expresses its profound concern about the adverse effect on the enjoyment of human
rights caused by armed groups and by drug traffickers who terrorize the population and
threaten the safety and lives of women".
126. At the same meeting, the Secretary of the Commission read out the following
changes to the revised draft resolution, agreed upon during informal consultations:
(a) The title of the revised draft resolution was changed to read "Advancement of
women and acts of terrorism against women";
(b) Operative paragraph 4, which had read:
"Agrees to examine this issue as part of item 4 of the agenda for the next meeting
of the Commission";
was revised to read:
"Decides to consider this question under the priority theme "Peace" at
its thirty-seventh session.
127. Also at the same meeting, the Commission adopted the revised draft resolution, as
orally revised (see chap. I, sect. C, resolution 36/7).
128. Before the draft resolution was adopted, the representative of France made a
statement.

129. The Commission considered item 6 of its agenda jointly with agenda item/4
(monitoring the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women) 38/ at its 1st to 5th, 11th and 14th meetings, on 11/to/13, 18 and
20 March 1992. It had before it the report of the Secretary-General (E/CN.6/1992/3).
130. The Director of the Division for the Advancement of Women introduced the item. She
noted that the report of the Secretary-General had been prepared in collaboration with the
organizations of the United Nations system as well as non-governmental organizations. The
report contained a number of specific proposals and identified issues on which the
Commission was expected to take action. She emphasized that the question of resources was
of considerable importance for the Conference.
131. Most representatives reaffirmed the importance and unique role of the Conference.
Others noted that 1995 was a good time for holding the Conference as it coincided with the
fiftieth anniversary of the United/Nations, the twentieth anniversary of International
Women's Year and the tenth anniversary of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies. Many
representatives also stressed the impact of the ongoing changes at the international
level. Preparations for the Conference were beginning at a time of new opportunities and
challenges, as well as of new threats to the advancement of women. The Conference was an
opportunity to demonstrate the relationship of the advancement of women to the political,
economic and social issues relevant to the development of societies and communities.
132. Many representatives noted that the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking
Strategies had been slowing down. That constituted a cost to society as a whole, as was
noted by 28/specialized agencies and organizations of the United/Nations system in a joint
statement to the Commission, as well as by a few representatives. It was hoped, therefore,
that the World Conference itself, and the entire preparatory process leading up to 1995,
would give a new impetus/to the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies,
to/the renewal of political commitment and to the identification of gender-responsive
development strategies, public policies and gender-sensitive monitoring and evaluation
systems. Many representatives emphasized that the process leading to the Conference, as
well as the Conference itself, should be forward-looking and action-oriented. Several
representatives stated that the entire process would enhance global awareness of the
status of women, especially in developing countries, and would identify the major
obstacles to women's advancement. They called for a broad information campaign on the
Conference and its preparations.
133. The platform for action should comprise only a few issues and establish concrete,
achievable and measurable goals to accelerate equality by the year/2000. Innovative
statistical data should be used to illustrate the situation of women as compared to men.
Several representatives, including some from the specialized agencies, agreed that the
platform for action should deal with emerging world issues, including human development
issues, and problems linked to the international economic order, terms of trade, debt and
structural adjustment. Others stressed that the platform should address obstacles to the
advancement of women. Under equality, a few representatives mentioned the unequal
distribution of paid and unpaid work and the continuing stereotyping of roles by the media
and society. A few representatives stressed the persistence or re-emergence of those
attitudes that constituted an obstacle to the advancement of women. Violence against women
and the low numbers of women in decision-making were mentioned under peace. Discrimination
in the labour market, poverty and women's health, including acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS), were highlighted as major obstacles under development.
134. Several representatives stressed that a strong focus of the World Conference
should be on the girl child and the different stages of women's lives. They also
identified positive goals, such as the establishment of a caring society, and true
partnership and sharing of responsibilities inside the family, calling for the involvement
of men in preparing for the Conference. The economic empowerment of women in general, and
of rural women in particular, was stressed. Several representatives called for the
increased participation of women in peace-keeping.
135. Regarding preparations for the Conference, several representatives expressed
support for the establishment of national committees to serve as catalysts for the
preparations. Others considered that effective national machinery for the advancement of
women was important, especially in gathering information on the local situation and
bringing national priorities into regional and international activities; they expressed
the hope that the Conference would be influential in strengthening such machinery. A few
representatives suggested that national-level action plans be developed in the context of
preparations for the Conference. Many representatives noted the important role of
non-governmental organizations, and stated that local non-governmental organizations and
grass-roots women's organizations also had a role to play and should be equipped to do so.
136. Many representatives reaffirmed the important role of the regional commissions and
supported the idea of regional technical meetings. A few representatives stated that
regional activities should consolidate national experience and identify common issues in
the region. Some representatives indicated that a key issue in Africa was education,
together with entrepreneurship, as proposed by the Secretary-General in his report.
137. At the international level, several representatives proposed ensuring that major
international events leading up to 1995, 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 International Year of the Family, would
have a gender perspective and include the question of women on their agendas. Many
representatives of agencies and organizations stressed the importance of inter-agency
collaboration and of cooperation with non-governmental organizations. Some representatives
supported holding the postponed Interregional Consultation on Women in Public Life in
preparation for the Conference.
138. On the issue of venue, the representative of China renewed the invitation of his
country to act as host for the Conference. The representative of Austria reported that
informal consultations had been held in New York with regard to the venue of the
Conference. He wished it to be noted that, should the Commission decide to hold the 1995
Conference in China, his country would be willing to act as host for a world conference in
the year 2000. Another representative welcomed that proposal.
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139. Several representatives expressed the hope that the Secretary-General of the
Conference would be appointed without delay; one representative, speaking on behalf of the
State Members of the United Nations that are members of the European Economic Community,
said that the Secretary-General should work full-time on preparations for the Conference.
Some representatives stated that the duration proposed for the Conference was too short.
140. Many representatives expressed the need for greater participation of
non-governmental organizations, individuals, professional associations, groups and the
media in the Conference itself, as well as in the associated forum for non-governmental
organizations. Several representatives suggested that participation in the Conference
should be extended beyond non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the
Economic and Social Council. Many representatives stated that the forum was important for
creating networks, cooperation and sharing of experience among non-governmental
organizations and for the future success of initiatives taken by the Conference. They
stressed the need for all facilities to be made available to it, and for close links to be
established with the Conference itself, substantially and organizationally.
The representative of China said that his country was prepared to play host to
non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
for participation in the Conference and in the forum. Non-governmental organizations
without such status and individuals wishing to attend the forum were also welcome to
attend.
141. Several representatives stressed the importance of extensive media build-up and
coverage of the Conference. The possibility of using satellite transmission was mentioned
as a means of bringing the Conference to the attention of the world.
142. Many representatives raised the issue of resources. Others recalled that the
Conference had been expected to be held at the lowest possible cost, and expressed the
hope that resources for the 1995 Conference would not be lower than those made available
for other United Nations world conferences. Several representatives stated that
United/Nations bodies involved in preparing the Conference, such as the regional
commissions and the Conference secretariat, should be provided with financial and human
resources commensurate with their responsibilities and expressed the hope that the
Commission would take action on the issue of resources. A few representatives stressed the
need for efficient and effective use of resources made available for the Conference. It
was considered that extrabudgetary resources should be mobilized for the Conference.
Additional resources had already been made available by certain Member States. Support was
also expressed for the proposal made by the
Secretary-General in his report that voluntary contributions could help to finance the
travel of representatives. The proposal to mobilize bilateral and multilateral assistance
for preparations in developing countries, especially in the least developed countries, was
also welcomed.
ACTION TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION
Preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development
and Peace
143. At the 11th meeting, on 18 March, the Vice-Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs.
Olga Pellicer (Mexico), introduced a draft resolution (E/CN.6/1992/L.18) entitled
"Preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality,
Development and Peace", submitted on the basis of informal consultations, which read
as follows:
"The Commission on the Status of Women, as the preparatory body for the Fourth
World Conference on Women,
"Recalling the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of/Women,
endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution/40/108 of 13 December 1985,
"Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution 1987/20 of 26/May/1987, in
which the Council decided that the Commission on the Status of Women should be designated
as the preparatory body for world conferences on women,
"Recalling further Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/15 of 24/May/1990
on the recommendations and conclusions arising from the first review and appraisal of the
implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women to
the year 2000,
"Recalling also its resolution 35/4 of 8 March 1991 on preparations for the world
conference on women in 1995 and its decision 35/101 of 8/March/1991 on the title of the
Conference and of national committees,
"A
"Organization of the Conference
"Noting with appreciation the offers made by the Governments of Austria and China
to act as host for the Fourth World Conference on Women:
Action for Equality, Development and Peace, and the forum for non-governmental
organizations,
"Taking into consideration General Assembly resolution 46/98 of 16/December 1991,
in which the Assembly requested the Commission to decide on the venue of the Fourth World
Conference on Women not later than at its thirty-sixth session, in accordance with
Commission decision 35/102 of 8 March 1991, bearing in mind that preference should be
given to the region that had not yet hosted a world conference on women,
"Considering the duration of previous world conferences on women, as well as
similar United Nations conferences,
"Bearing in mind that the Conference in 1995 coincides with the fiftieth
anniversary of the United Nations,
"Affirming the importance to the success of the Conference of the maximum
participation of Governments at the highest possible level, of intergovernmental
organizations, organizations of the United Nations system and interested non-governmental
organizations, as well as other regional organizations acting through their
representatives to the Commission,
"Recalling that the General Assembly, in its resolution 46/98, requested the
Secretary-General to appoint not later than 1992 the Secretary-General of the Conference,
"Recalling its resolution 35/4, in which the Commission decided to prepare a
programme of action for consideration by the Conference,
"1. Decides
"(a) To accept the offer of the Government of China to act as host for the Fourth
World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Develoment and Peace, in accordance with
General Assembly resolution 40/243 of 18 December 1985;
"(b) That the Conference should be of a duration of ten working days;
"(c) That the Conference should be held at Beijing from 5/to 16/September 1995;
"2. Also decides that participation in the Conference will be open to:
"(a) All States Members of the United/Nations or of a specialized agency of the
United/Nations;
"(b) Representatives of all organizations that have received a standing invitation
from the General Assembly to participate in the sessions and the work of all international
conferences convened under its auspices in the capacity of observers to participate in the
Conference in that capacity, in accordance with Assembly resolutions 3237 (XXIX) on
22/November/1974 and 43/177 of 15 December 1988;
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"(c) Representatives of the national liberation movements recognized in its region
by the Organization of African Unity to participate in the Conference in the capacity of
observers, in accordance with General/Assembly resolution 3280 (XXIX) of 10 December 1974;
"(d) The specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well
as interested organizations of the United Nations system;
"(e) Other interested intergovernmental organizations, to be represented by
observers at the Conference;
"(f) Interested non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the
Economic and Social Council, to be represented by observers at the Conference;
"(g) Individuals who, in recognition of their personal contributions to the
advancement of women, are invited by the Secretary-General;
"(h) Members of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women;
"3. Requests the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations to consider, on a
priority basis in advance of the Conference, giving consultative status to a more
representative number of non-governmental organizations concerned with the advancement of
women;
"4. Recommends to the Secretary-General to appoint the Secretary-General of the
Conference, not later than 1992, taking into account the desirability that the individual
appointed should be a woman, should have international stature in relation to the
advancement of women, and experience in the United/Nations system;
"5. Decides that the agenda for the Conference shall include:
"(a) The second review and appraisal of the implementation of the Nairobi
Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women to the year 2000;
"(b) The Platform for Action;
"(c) The main conclusions and recommendations of regional preparatory conferences;
"(d) Institutional arrangements for the implementation of the Platform for Action;
"6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the Commission, at its
thirty-seventh session, containing a first draft, which will serve as a working document
for the elaboration of the Platform for Action, taking as a basis all guidelines contained
in Commission resolution 35/4, the impact of the changes that have taken place in the
international community on the status of women, the importance of integrating gender
perspectives in policy-making in all areas and at all levels, the need to give priority to
the situation of rural women, in particular in developing countries, and differences in
priorities among regions, based on a full input from the organizations of the United
Nations system, as well as other regional organizations acting through their
representatives to the Commission;
"7. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit to the Commission at its
thirty-seventh session a report containing (a) information on data that would be used/in
the formulation of the second report on the
implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies and (b) an outline of the
second report, in/which special emphasis should be given to the recommendations and
conclusions arising from the first review and appraisal of the implementation of the
Strategies, contained in the annex to Council resolution/1990/15, in particular those
referring to the condition of women in developing countries;
"8. Further requests the Secretary-General to prepare draft rules of procedure for
consideration by the Commission at its thirty-eighth session;
"B
"Preparatory process
"Emphasizing the importance of national preparatory activities in focusing
national attention on the issue of the status and advancement of women, and of national
machinery to assess the situation and mobilize national non-governmental organizations and
individuals, with a view to improving national performance in the advancement of women,
"Considering the importance of activities for the advancement of women that have
taken place at the regional level since International Women's Year and recognizing the
necessity of providing for an exchange of national experiences and the elaboration of
regional priorities and perspectives for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for
Equality, Development and Peace, and to the year 2000,
"Recalling Economic and Social Council resolution 1990/9 of 24/May/1990 on the
second report on the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the
Advancement of Women,
"Recognizing the importance of non-governmental organizations in the preparations
for the Conference at the national, regional and global levels, especially the forum for
non-governmental organizations, which will take place prior to and partially
simultaneously with the Conference,
"Convinced that promotion of the Conference requires the creative and effective
use of public information,
"1. Recommends that Governments establish a national committee or designate a
national focal point to initiate and promote preparations for the Fourth World Conference
on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, by organizing and coordinating
national activities, including assembling information and gender-disaggregated statistics
for the elaboration of national reports on the situation of women, and increasing public
awareness about the Conference, and requests that reports on such activities be made
available to the Secretary-General;
"2. Urges organizations of the United Nations system, at the national level, to
cooperate with national efforts to prepare for the Conference and to coordinate their
activities through the United Nations Resident Coordinator;
"3. Requests the Secretary-General to inform Governments about the recommendation
regarding national committees or focal points;
"4. Recommends that the national reports cited in paragraph 1 above cover the
period from 1985 to the present;
"5. Urges the organizations of the United Nations system to provide support, on
request, to the preparation of national reports;
"6. Recommends that regional conferences already scheduled include in their
agendas preparations for the World Conference and suggests that, in those regions that
have not yet scheduled them, regional conferences to prepare for the World Conference be
organized under the auspices of the corresponding regional commission;
"7. Requests the regional conferences to identify regional trends, priorities,
obstacles and innovative suggestions for future action and that the results of those
regional conferences be provided to the Commission not later than at its thirty-ninth
session;
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"8. Recommends that regional conferences include in their agendas the issue of
women in public life, emphasizing their role in politics and decision-making;
"9. Requests the Secretary-General to include information on women in public life
in the preparations of the/priority theme on peace: women in international
decision-making, for the Commission at its the/thirty-ninth session;
"10. Recommends that a public information strategy for the Conference be designed,
using information mechanisms that reach the greatest number of people and based on the
Conference themes, in particular those related to development;
"11. Requests the Secretary-General to plan and implement an information campaign
and to issue a new bulletin entitled Conference 95 twice a year to disseminate information
on preparatory activities for the Conference at all levels in all official languages;
"12. Also requests the Secretary-General to provide Governments with a concise set
of guidelines for public information campaigns at the national level and with periodic
information packages that can be made available to national mass media and
non-governmental organizations;
"13. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the Commission at its
thirty-seventh session on the planning and implementation of the complete information
campaign, including its priorities and resource needs;
"14. Requests the Secretary-General to include the Conference as part of the
celebrations for the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations;
"C
"Forum for non-governmental organizations
"Recalling successful forums for non-governmental organizations held in Mexico,
Copenhagen and Nairobi,
"Acknowledging the offer made by the host Government to all non-governmental
organizations and individuals wishing to attend the forum in Beijing,
"1. Emphasizes the importance of close proximity between the forum and the Fourth
World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, as well as some
concurrence in time;
"2. Invites the committee of non-governmental organizations arranging the forum
and national and regional activities to provide information, including media arrangements,
to the Commission through a report of the Secretary-General on preparations for the
Conference;
"D
"Resources for the Conference and its preparations
"Recalling General Assembly resolution 46/98 of 16 December 1991, in which concern
was expressed that the resources for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for
Equality, Development and Peace, were not sufficient, and Assembly resolution 46/185 of 20
December 1991, in which the Assembly requested the Secretary-General to ensure that
adequate resources were provided for the preparation of the Conference during the biennium
1992-1993,
"Desiring to ensure the maximum representation by Governments, especially of the
least developed countries, in the regional preparatory process and in the Conference,
"1. Requests the Economic and Social Council to reconsider the budget envisaged
for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, on
the basis of a report of the Secretary-General outlining resource requirements for
regional and interregional preparatory activities, public information activities and for
the Conference itself;
"2. Urges Governments, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental
organizations and individuals to contribute extrabudgetary resources to the trust fund
established by the Secretary-General for the preparations of the Conference, especially
for the participation of representatives of the least developed countries in regional
meetings and in the Conference;
"E
"Documentation
"1. Decides that the documentation for the Fourth World Conference on Women:
Action for Equality, Development and Peace, will include:
"(a) Report of the Secretary-General on the second review and appraisal of the
implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women;
"(b) Draft final document (Platform for Action);
"(c) Update of the World Survey on the Role of Women in Development;
"(d) Update of The World's Women: Trends and Statistics;
"(e) Updated compendium on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;
"(f) Report of the Secretary-General on the outcome of regional preparatory
meetings for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and
Peace;
"(g) Relevant sections of final documents emanating from the United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development, the World Conference on Human Rights and the
International Conference on Population and Development."
144. Also at the 11th meeting, the representative of Austria proposed that a new
subparagraph be inserted in section A, operative paragraph 1, between subparagraphs (a)
and (b), which would read as follows:
"To take note of the interest of Austria to host a world conference on women in
the year 2000".
145. This amendment was subsequently withdrawn by Austria.
146. At the 14th meeting, on 20 March, the Chairperson read out changes to the draft
resolution agreed upon during further informal consultations. The changes were as follows:
(a) In section A, subparagraph 1 (c), the dates 5 to 16 September 1995 were changed to
4 to 15 September 1995;
(b) The chapeau of operative paragraph 2 was revised to read as follows:
"Also decides to recommend that participation in the Conference should be open
to";
(c) Subparagraph 2 (a) was revised to read as follows:
"(a) All States Members of the United Nations or of any of the specialized
agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency";
(d) In subparagraph 2 (b), the word "all" was deleted;
(e) In subparagraph 2 (d), the words "The executive heads of" were added
before the words "the specialized agencies";
(f) Operative paragraph 3 was replaced by the following two paragraphs:
"3. Requests the Economic and Social Council to request the Committee on
Non-Governmental Organizations to consider on a priority basis, in advance of the
Conference, the granting of consultative status to more non-governmental organizations
concerned with the advancement of women, with particular attention being given to
applications from non-governmental organizations from developing countries, and also
requests that the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations be provided with additional
resources to deal with the additional workload";
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"4. Recommends that the arrangements for consultation with non-governmental
organizations, as approved by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1296
(XLIV) of 23 May 1968, be reviewed to make consultative status more accessible to
non-governmental organizations, particularly those from developing countries";
(g) Operative paragraph 4 (para. 5 of the final text) was revised to read as follows:
"Recommends that the Secretary-General appoint a woman as Secretary-General of the
Conference, not later than 1992, who should have international stature in relation to the
advancement of women and experience in the United Nations system, and who would assume
primary responsibility for the preparation of the Conference";
(h) A new operative paragraph (para. 6 of the final text) was inserted after operative
paragraph 4 (para. 5 of the final text), which read as follows:
"Also recommends that, in appointing the necessary staff for the Conference, the
Secretary-General include persons from the developing and the least developed countries,
taking into consideration equitable geographical distribution";
(i) Operative paragraphs 5 to 8 of section A were renumbered 7 to 10;
(j) In section B, a new penultimate preambular paragraph was inserted, which read as
follows:
"Acknowledging the important role of women entrepreneurship, notably in small and
medium-sized enterprises, in mobilizing resources and in promoting economic growth and
socio-economic development";
(k) A new operative paragraph was inserted after operative paragraph 10, which read as
follows:
"11. Also recommends that regional conferences include in their agendas the issue
of entrepreneurship and the advancement of women, emphasizing the need to facilitate an
overall entrepreneurial activity
through appropriate economic policies, training, access to credit, information and
other support systems";
(l) Operative paragraphs 11 to 14 of section A were renumbered 12/to/15;
(m) In section C, a new operative paragraph was added, which read as follows:
"3. Emphasizes the importance of unrestricted participation by the media in
covering the forum";
(n) In section D, a new operative paragraph was added, which read as follows:
"3. Urges Governments, international organizations and multilateral financial
institutions to provide assistance to the least developed countries for their preparatory
activities at the national level".
147. Also at the 14th meeting, the Deputy Director of the Division for the Advancement
of Women stated that, after reviewing the draft resolution, it appeared that the
modalities for the preparation and holding of the Conference differed substantially from
those reported to the Economic and Social Council at its first regular session of 1990.
The proposed new modalities would result in additional requirements for (a) travel of
participants who are entitled to travel at the expense of the United Nations; (b) regional
activities in the course of preparations for the Conference; (c) an information campaign
to be conducted by the Department of Public Information; and (d) additional
conference-servicing requirements. A preliminary review indicated that overall additional
costs could reach $1 million. Most of the additional requirements would be related to the
biennium 1994-1995. For 1993, the proposal to issue a new bulletin, entitled
"Conference 1995", would require an additional provision of $30,000 for external
printing and binding.
148. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as orally
revised (see chap. I, sect. C, resolution 36/8).
149. After the draft resolution was adopted, the representative of the United States of
America made a statement.

150. The Commission considered item 7 of its agenda at its 14th meeting, on 20/March
1992. It had before it the following documents:
(a) Note by the Secretary-General on the proposed work programme required to prepare
for the in-depth consideration of the priority themes scheduled for the thirty-seventh
session of the Commission (E/CN.6/1992/CRP.1);
(b) Note by the Secretariat containing the draft provisional agenda and documentation
for the thirty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women
(E/CN.6/1992/L.20).
151. The Deputy Director of the Division for the Advancement of Women made an
introductory statement.
152. At the same meeting, the Commission approved the provisional agenda for the
thirty-seventh session for submission to the Economic and Social Council and requested the
secretariat of the Commission to complete it in the light of decisions taken by other
organs (for the text of the draft decision, see chap./I, sect. B, draft decision I).
Request for additional conference facilities during the thirty-seventh session of the
Commission
153. At the 14th meeting, on 20 March, on the proposal of the Chairperson, the
Commission decided to recommend that the Economic and Social Council approve the convening
of four additional meetings, with interpretation services, during the thirty-seventh
session of the Commission; those meetings would be held simultaneously with the plenary
meetings of the Commission for the purpose of considering in informal meetings the
preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development
and Peace, in 1995 (see chap. I, sect. B, draft decision II).
154. At the same meeting, the Deputy Director of the Division for the Advancement of
Women stated that the provision of additional meetings would involve additional
conference-servicing costs at full cost estimated at $65,900, but the actual cost would be
set against the provision already made under section 32 of the programme budget for the
biennium 1992-1993, in accordance with existing methodology for budgeting for
conference-servicing requirements in relation to the inclusion of additional meetings in
the calendar of meetings and conferences.
155. After the draft decision was adopted, the representative of the United States of
America made a statement.

156. At its 14th meeting, on 20 March 1992, the Commission adopted the report on its
thirty-sixth session (E/CN.6/1992/L.3 and Add.1-4), as orally amended.
This document has been made available in electronic format by
the United Nations.