E/2006/27 E/CN.6/2006/15 Chapter VII Organization of the session A. Opening and duration of the session 1. The Commission on the Status of Women held its fiftieth session at United Nations Headquarters on 22 March 2005 and from 27 February to 10 and 16 March 2006. The Commission held 14 meetings (1st to 14th). 2. The session was opened by the Chairperson of the fiftieth session of the Commission, Carmen María Gallardo (El Salvador), who also made a statement. 3. At the 2nd meeting, on 27 February 2006, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the Economic and Social Council addressed the Commission. 4. The Commission then viewed a video presentation highlighting the four world conferences on women. 5. At the same meeting, a statement was made by the Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women. B. Attendance 6. The session was attended by representatives of 45 States members of the Commission. Observers for other States Members of the United Nations, the Holy See and Palestine, representatives of organizations and other entities of the United Nations system and observers for intergovernmental, non-governmental and other organizations also attended. A list of participants is available in document E/CN.6/2006/INF.1. C. Election of officers 7. In accordance with paragraph 2 of Economic and Social Council resolution 1987/21, the officers elected to the Bureau of the Commission should serve for a term of office of two years. The following officers were elected at the 1st meeting of the fiftieth session, on 22 March 2005: Chairperson: Carmen María Gallardo (El Salvador) Vice-Chairpersons: Szilvia Szabo (Hungary) Adekunbi Abibat Sonaike (Nigeria) Thomas Woodroffe (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) Dicky Komar (Indonesia) 8. At its 2nd meeting, on 27 February 2006, the Commission appointed Dicky Komar (Indonesia) to serve as Vice-Chairperson-cum-Rapporteur for the fiftieth and fifty-first sessions. 57