Chapter V PREPARATIONS FOR THE FOURTH WORLD CONFERENCE ON WOMEN: ACTION FOR EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE 1. The Commission considered item 6 of its agenda jointly with agenda item 4 (Monitoring the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women) at its 2nd to 6th, 11th, 13th and 16th meetings, from 17 to 19 and from 24 to 26 March 1993. It had before it the following reports: (a) Report of the Secretary-General on the preparations for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace (E/CN.6/1993/5); (b) Report of the Secretary-General containing a first draft to serve as a working document for the elaboration of the Platform for Action (E/CN.6/1993/6); (c) Report of the Secretary-General on the outline and content of the second review and appraisal of the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women (E/CN.6/1993/7); (d) Report of the Secretary-General on the planning and implementation of the information campaign for the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace (E/CN.6/1993/8); (e) Preliminary version of the 1994 World Survey on the Role of Women in Development (A/48/70-E/1993/16). Preparatory activities 2. In introducing the item, the Secretary-General of the Fourth World Conference on Women indicated the need for the Commission to agree on an outline for the Platform for Action so that future sessions could be devoted to its substantive content. She stressed that the Platform should be short and easily understandable and she also emphasized the importance of the wide dissemination of information. On the subject of finances, she stated that the Conference secretariat should be strengthened and she invited contributions to the Trust Fund for the Preparatory Activities for the Fourth World Conference. 3. Many representatives stressed the importance of the Conference as a means of injecting momentum into the issue of the advancement of women and of revitalizing the Forward-looking Strategies. A few representatives added that it was of particular importance, in the light of the changes occurring in the world and the difficulties being faced in social, economic and political situations, that the issue of women’s advancement should be approached on a cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary basis. 4. Some representatives were concerned about the possible negative impact of organizational reform within the United Nations, and the resulting relocation of the Conference secretariat, on preparations for the Conference. Others expressed their concern about the transfer of parts of the Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs from Vienna to New York, hoping that the move would not jeopardize the preparations for the Conference. 5. Many representatives stressed the importance of the preparatory process and attached importance to joint and coordinated efforts of Governments, non-governmental organizations, voluntary organizations and the United Nations system. Many representatives were of the opinion that the inclusion of a gender -79-