E/2002/27 E/CN.6/2002/13 Panel discussions on agenda item 3 (c) A. Eradicating poverty, including through the empowerment of women throughout their life cycle in a globalizing world 17. At its 5th meeting, on 6 March, the Commission held a panel discussion and dialogue on eradicating poverty, including through the empowerment of women throughout their life cycle in a globalizing world (agenda item 3 (c) (i)). 18. Presentations were made by the following experts: Ms. Savitri Bisnath (Trinidad and Tobago), Doctoral Candidate in the Department of City and Regional Planning, Cornell University; Ms. Gaudence Rwamaheke (Burundi), Director, Ministry of Social Action and the Advancement of Women; and Mr. Jan Vandemoortele (Belgium), Doctor of Development Economics and principal adviser and group leader for socio-economic development at the United Nations Development Programme. 19. The Commission then held a dialogue with the panel of experts in which the following delegations participated: Turkey, Norway, Burkina Faso, Guatemala, Spain (on behalf of the European Union), Botswana, Romania, Israel, the Republic of Korea, Kenya, Tunisia, Finland, Senegal, Argentina, Bangladesh, the United States of America, Peru, Ghana, the Netherlands, Mexico, Pakistan, Rwanda, Indonesia, China and Cuba. 20. Observers for the following non-governmental organizations also participated in the dialogue: African Women’s Caucus; International Federation of University Women (on behalf of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women, Geneva); and Women’s International Coalition for Economic Justice. B. Environmental management and mitigation of natural disasters: a gender perspective 21. At the 6th meeting, on 6 March, the Commission held a panel discussion and dialogue on environmental management and mitigation of natural disasters: a gender perspective (agenda item 3 (c) (ii)). 22. Presentations were made by the following experts: Mr. Sálvano Briceño (Venezuela), Director of the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR); Ms. Idiatou Camara (Guinea), National Director of the Environment; Ms. Elaine Enarson (United States of America), independent scholar and sociology and women’s studies teacher; and Ms. J. Marie Yolene V. Surena (Haiti), Director, Civil Protection Direction, Ministry of the Interior. 23. The Commission then held a dialogue with the panel of experts in which the following delegations participated: Benin, Fiji, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, Spain (on behalf of the European Union), Norway, China, Denmark, Cuba, Senegal, Indonesia, Israel, Guinea, Kenya, the Netherlands, Australia, Turkey, the United States of America, Thailand and Haiti. 24. The observer for the Commonwealth Secretariat also spoke. 29