The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was
established as a functional commission of the Economic and Social
Council by Council resolution 11(II) of 21 June 1946 to prepare
recommendations and reports to the Council on promoting women's
rights in political, economic, civil, social and educational fields.
The Commission also makes recommendations to the Council on urgent
problems requiring immediate attention in the field of women's
rights. The object of the Commission is to promote implementation of
the principle that men and women shall have equal rights. The
Commission's mandate was expanded in 1987 by the Council in its
resolution 1987/22.
Following the 1995 Fourth
World Conference on Women, the General Assembly mandated the
Commission to integrate into its programme a follow-up process to
the Conference, regularly reviewing the critical areas of concern in
the Platform for Action and to develop its catalytic
role in mainstreaming a
gender perspective in United Nations activities.
The
Economic and Social Council modified the Commission's terms of
reference in 1996, in its resolution 1996/6. In 2000, a
comprehensive review and appraisal of progress made in the
implementation of the Platform for Action was undertaken by the
twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (Beijing +5)
entitled "Women2000: gender equality, development and peace for the
twenty-first century". The Assembly adopted a Political
Declaration and Further
Actions and Initiatives to Implement the Beijing Declaration and
Platform for Action (the Outcome Document). The Commission's
current and future work, as determined by its multi-year programme
of work 2002-2006
is closely related to both, the Platform for Action and the Outcome
Document so as to ensure their effective implementation.
The Commission, which began with 15 members, now
consists of 45 members elected by the Economic and Social
Council for a period of four years. Members, who are appointed by
Governments, are elected on the following basis: thirteen from
African states; eleven from Asian states; four from Eastern European
states; nine from Latin American and Caribbean states; and eight
from Western European and Other states. The Commission meets
annually for a period of ten working days.
The Bureau of the
Commission on the Status of Women (fiftieth and
fifty-first sessions) comprises the following
members:
- H.E. Ms. Carmen Marķa Gallardo (El Salvador),
Chairperson
- Mrs. Adekunbi Abibat Sonaike (Nigeria), Vice
Chairperson
- Ms. Szilvia Szabo (Hungary), Vice Chairperson
- Mr. Tom Woodroffe (United Kingdom), Vice
Chairperson
- Mr. Dicky Komar (Indonesia), Vice Chairperson
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