A/RES/54/137
Page 2
mainstream of United Nations activities system-wide, and, in this context, calling for the implementation of
agreed conclusions 1998/2 of 28 July 1998 of the Economic and Social Council,2
Noting that 1999 is the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination against Women,3 welcoming the progress made in its implementation, but
concerned about the remaining challenges,
Bearing in mind its resolution 54/4 of 6 October 1999, by which it adopted and opened for signature,
ratification and accession the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women,
Bearing in mind also the recommendation of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women that national reports include information on the implementation of the Platform for Action
of the Fourth World Conference on Women,4
Welcoming the growing number of States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination against Women, which now stands at one hundred sixty-five,
Noting the elaboration and adoption by the Committee, at its twentieth session, of general
recommendation 24 on article 12 of the Convention, on women and health,5
Having considered the report of the Committee on its twentieth and twenty-first sessions,6
Expressing concern at the great number of reports that are overdue and that continue to be overdue, in
particular initial reports, which constitutes an obstacle to the full implementation of the Convention,
1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Elimination
of All Forms of Discrimination against Women;7
2. Urges all States that have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention to do so as soon as possible,
so that universal ratification of the Convention can be achieved by the year 2000;
3. Emphasizes the importance of full compliance by States parties with their obligations under the
Convention;
2
Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-third Session, Supplement No. 3 and corrigendum (A/53/3
and Corr.1), chap. VI, para. 3.
3
Resolution 34/180, annex.
4
Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4–15 September 1995 (United Nations
publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.
5
Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-fourth Session, Supplement No. 38 (A/54/38/Rev.1), part
one, chap. I, sect. A.
6
Ibid., parts one and two.
7
A/54/224 and Corr.1.
/...