E/2004/27 E/CN.6/2004/14 7. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to review the situation and to assist Palestinian women by all available means, including those laid out in his report entitled “Situation of and assistance to Palestinian women”,28 and to submit to the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-ninth session a report including information provided by the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution. Draft resolution III Agreed conclusions of the Commission on the Status of Women on the role of men and boys in achieving gender equality* The Economic and Social Council, Endorses the following agreed conclusions adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women at its forty-eighth session with respect to the role of men and boys in achieving gender equality: 1. The Commission on the Status of Women recalls and reiterates that the Beijing Declaration29 and the Platform for Action30 encouraged men to participate fully in all actions towards gender equality and urged the establishment of the principle of shared power and responsibility between women and men at home, in the community, in the workplace and in the wider national and international communities. The Commission also recalls and reiterates the outcome document adopted at the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled “Gender equality, development and peace in the twenty-first century”, which emphasized that men must take joint responsibility with women for the promotion of gender equality. 2. The Commission recognizes that while men and boys sometimes face discriminatory barriers and practices, they can and do make contributions to gender equality in many capacities, including as individuals, members of families, social groups and communities and in all spheres of society. 3. The Commission recognizes that gender inequalities still exist and are reflected in imbalances of power between women and men in all spheres of society. The Commission further recognizes that everyone benefits from gender equality and that the negative impacts of gender inequality are borne by society as a whole and emphasizes, therefore, that men and boys, through taking responsibility themselves and working jointly in partnership with women and girls, are essential to the achievement of the goals of gender equality, development and peace. The Commission recognizes the capacity of men and boys in bringing about change in attitudes, relationships and access to resources and decision-making, which are critical for the promotion of gender equality and the full enjoyment of all human rights by women. 4. The Commission acknowledges and encourages men and boys to continue to take positive initiatives to eliminate gender stereotypes and promote gender equality, including combating violence against women, through networks, __________________ * For the discussion, see chap. II, paras. 89-91. E/CN.6/2004/4. 29 Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. 30 Ibid., annex II. 28 8