E/2012/27 E/CN.6/2012/16 Chapter II Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and to the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” 1. The Commission considered item 3 of its agenda at its 2nd to 14th meetings, from 27 February to 6 March 2012; on its 16th to 18th meetings, on 8 and 9 March 2012; and on its 19th meeting, on 15 March 2012. It held a general discussion at its 2nd, 5th and 6th, 10th to 12th, and 13th meetings. It had before it the following documents: (a) Report of the Under-Secretary-General/Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women on the normative aspects of its work (E/CN.6/2012/2); (b) Report of the Secretary-General on the empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges (E/CN.6/2012/3); (c) Report of the Secretary-General on the empowerment of rural women: the role of gender-responsive governance and institutions (E/CN.6/2012/4); (d) Note by the Secretariat transmitting a discussion guide for the high-level round table on the empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges (E/CN.6/2012/5); (e) Report of the Secretary-General on the situation of and assistance to Palestinian women (E/CN.6/2012/6); (f) Report of the Secretary-General on the release of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts (E/CN.6/2012/7); (g) Report of the Secretary-General on ending female genital mutilation (E/CN.6/2012/8); (h) Report of the Secretary-General on actions to strengthen linkages among programmes, initiatives and activities throughout the United Nations system for gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls, protection of all of their human rights and elimination of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity (E/CN.6/2012/9); (i) Report of the Secretary-General on the economic empowerment of women (E/CN.6/2012/10); (j) Report of the Secretary-General on women, the girl child and HIV and AIDS (E/CN.6/2012/11); (k) Report of the Secretary-General on the joint workplan of the United Nations Entity on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (A/HRC/19/31E/CN.6/2012/12); 28 12-27405