E/2000/27 E/CN.6/2000/9 25. Also at the same meeting, the observer for the International Organization for Migration made a statement. 26. At the same meeting, the representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees made a statement. 27. Also at the same meeting, statements were made by the observers for the following non-governmental organizations: World Blind Union (on behalf of the Caucus of Women with Disabilities); Caucus on Violence Against Women; International Federation of University Women (on behalf of five non-governmental organizations); and Asia-Pacific Forum. Panel discussion on emerging issues, trends and new approaches to issues affecting the situation of women or equality between women and men (agenda item 3 (b)) 28. At its 6th meeting, on 1 March, the Commission held a panel discussion and dialogue on emerging issues, trends and new approaches to issues affecting the situation of women or equality between women and men (agenda item 3 (b)). 29. Presentations were made by the following experts: Dominique Meda, Inspector, General Inspection of Social Affairs (France); Mame Bassine Niang, Magistrate, Ministry of the Family, Social Action and National Solidarity (Senegal); Charlotte Abaka, Member, Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (Ghana); Gillian M. Marcelle, Chairperson, African Information Society Gender Working Group (South Africa); Madhu Bala Nath, Gender and HIV/AIDS Adviser to the Joint United Nations Programme on Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and the United Nations Development Fund for Women. 30. The principal elements emerging from the panel discussion were summarized by the moderator of the panel discussion, Loreto Leyton (Chile), ViceChairperson of the Commission. The text was approved by the Commission for inclusion as an annex to its report (see annex I), and it was neither negotiated nor adopted by the Commission. Action taken by the Commission Release of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts 31. At the 6th meeting, on 1 March, the observer for Azerbaijan, 28 introduced a draft resolution entitled "Release of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts" (E/CN.6/2000/L.2). Subsequently, Argentina, 28 Cameroon, 28 China, Ethiopia, Gabon,28 Ghana, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand and Turkey joined in sponsoring the draft resolution. 32. At the 8th meeting, on 2 March, the observer for Azerbaijan orally revised operative paragraph 2 of the draft resolution by inserting the word “armed” before the word “conflicts”, inserting the word “safe” before the word “unimpeded” and deleting the word “specialized” before the word “humanitarian”. 33. At the same meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as orally revised (see chap. I, sect. C, resolution 44/1). Situation of women and girls in Afghanistan 34. At the 6th meeting, on 1 March, the representative of the United States of America, on behalf of Brazil, Canada,28 Chile, Ecuador,28 Germany, Ghana, Iceland,28 Italy, Japan, Kenya,28 28 28 Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, New Zealand,28 28 28 Portugal, Spain and the United States of America, introduced a draft resolution entitled “Situation of women and girls in Afghanistan” (E/CN.6/2000/L.4). Subsequently, Australia, 28 Argentina, 28 Austria, 28 Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Fiji, 28 Finland, 28 France, Hungary, 28 Ireland, 28 Israel, 28 Luxembourg,28 Mali,28 Mongolia, Norway, 28 the Philippines,27 the Republic of Korea, Sweden,28 Thailand, Turkey and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland joined in sponsoring the draft resolution. In introducing the draft resolution, the representative of the United States of America orally revised it as follows: __________________ 28 In accordance with rule 69 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council. 11