E/1999/27 E/CN.6/1999/10 Chapter VIII Organization of the session A. Opening and duration of the session 1. The Commission on the Status of Women held its forty-third session at United Nations Headquarters from 1 to 12 March 1999 and 1 April. The Commission held 17 meetings (1st to 17th). In accordance with Economic and Social Council decision 1997/227, the Open-ended Working Group on the Elaboration of a Draft Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women also met during the session. 2. The session was opened by the Chairperson, Patricia Flor (Germany), who also made a statement. B. Attendance 3. The session was attended by representatives of 44 States members of the Commission. Observers for other States Members of the United Nations, non-member States and entities maintaining permanent observer missions to the United Nations, representatives of organizations of the United Nations system, and observers for intergovernmental, non-governmental and other organizations also attended. A list of participants is contained in annex III to the present report. C. Election of officers 4. In accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1987/21, the officers elected to the Bureau of the Commission at its forty-second session were to serve as officers during the forty-third session. The Bureau therefore comprised: Chairperson: Patricia Flor (Germany) Vice-Chairpersons: Karam Fadi Habib (Lebanon) Marcela Maria Nicodemos (Brazil) Nonhlanhla P. L. Mlangeni (Swaziland) Zuzana Vranová (Slovakia) 5. At its 1st meeting, on 1 March, the Commission designated Zuzana Vranová Vice-Chairperson with rapporteurial responsibilities. D. Agenda and organization of work 6. At its 1st meeting, on 1 March, the Commission adopted its provisional agenda and approved its organization of work, as contained in document E/CN.6/1999/1. The agenda read as follows: 48 1. Election of officers. 2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters.