Concern was expressed that 38 States parties had not yet submitted their initial reports and they were urged to submit those reports and, if needed, to request advisory services for assistance in their preparation. 10. Concern was also expressed with regard to the backlog of reports pending consideration by the Committee since that led to an unacceptable delay in considering them. Some representatives noted that the time allocated for the annual meetings of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was far shorter than that of other human rights treaty bodies. It was suggested that the Convention be amended, on an exceptional basis and with reference only to the working time of the Committee set out in article 20 of the Convention, to provide the Committee with the same flexibility as other human rights treaty bodies. One representative supported the recommendation adopted by the Committee at its thirteenth session to authorize, on an exceptional basis, two meetings of three weeks’ duration annually, each preceded by a pre-session working group. 11. Many representatives stressed that, without prejudice to the discussion on the feasibility of an optional protocol, the matter should be considered within the wider context of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of all human rights mechanisms and serving the interest of women of the world and for the purpose of avoiding duplication of work. One representative supported the idea of convening an expert group meeting to prepare a draft optional protocol in accordance with the suggestion made by the Committee at its thirteenth session. 12. The representative of a United Nations body provided information on its programme activities and policy discussion related to the promotion of the Convention and supplementary information and comments on the application of the Convention in selected countries. Follow-up to the World Conference on Human Rights 13. Many representatives welcomed the strong emphasis on the equal status and human rights of women contained in the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights. Some representatives also welcomed the recognition of the importance of incorporating a gender perspective in the work of the United Nations. 14. Many representatives welcomed the decision taken at the fiftieth session of the Commission on Human Rights to appoint a Special Rapporteur on violence against women as an opportunity to build on the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, and to ensure that any violations of women’s human rights were reported and dealt with effectively at the main human rights forums. One representative stressed that the effectiveness of the Rapporteur would be determined by the cooperation and coordination among the Commission on the Status of Women, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the other human rights treaty bodies and the Commission on Human Rights. 15. Some representatives supported the proposals contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the follow-up to the World Conference on Human Rights (E/CN.6/1994/11), such as establishing a women’s rights unit within the Division for the Advancement of Women; convening an expert group meeting to develop specific guidelines on how to identify, document and report on gender-based violations of human rights; designing a training workshop and preparing material on gender analysis. Other representatives welcomed the suggestion to prepare a study, outlining the ways and means of cooperation between the Division for the Advancement of Women and the Centre for Human Rights. The necessity of -62-