SUMMARY At its thirty-ninth session, the Commission on the Status of Women, acting as the preparatory body for the Fourth World Conference on Women, recommended a draft resolution on accreditation of non-governmental organizations to the Conference for adoption by the General Assembly and recommended the provisional rules of procedure of the Conference, as amended, for approval by the General Assembly (see chap. II). The Commission recommended the provisional agenda and proposed organization of work of the Conference for adoption by the Conference (resolution 39/1). The Commission also decided to grant observer status to a number of intergovernmental organizations and other entities (decision 39/1), approved the list of non-governmental organizations recommended for accreditation to the Conference (decision 39/2), decided to establish an informal contact group to seek agreement on the commonly understood meaning of the term "gender" in the context of the Platform for Action (decision 39/3), and decided to transmit to the Conference for its consideration, material on a draft declaration and the draft platform for action (decision 39/4). As part of its regular work, the Commission recommended to the Economic and Social Council the adoption of three draft resolutions and one draft decision. In addition, it adopted eight resolutions related to items on its agenda. In draft resolution I (Improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat), the Council would urge the Secretary-General to implement fully the strategic plan of action for the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat, giving priority to the recruitment and promotion of women in posts subject to geographical distribution, particularly in senior policy-level and decision-making posts; to examine further existing work practices within the United Nations system to increase flexibility; to increase the number of women in the Secretariat from developing countries and from other countries that have a low representation of women. It would request the Secretary-General to ensure that equal employment opportunities exist for all staff; to enable the Focal Point on the Status of Women within the Secretariat to monitor and facilitate progress; and to further develop comprehensive policy measures aimed at the prevention of sexual harassment. It would encourage Member States to support the strategic plan and take steps to assist in its implementation. In draft resolution II (Palestinian women), the Council would demand compliance from the occupying power to various international principles and call upon it to facilitate the return of all refugee and displaced Palestinian women and children and those who are political deportees to their homes and properties in the occupied Palestinian territory; urge members of the international community to intensify efforts to provide financial and technical assistance to Palestinian women; request the Commission on the Status of Women to continue to monitor and take action on parts of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women concerning Palestinian women and children; and request the Secretary-General to continue to review the situation and to assist Palestinian women by all available means. In draft resolution III (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women), the Council would recommend that the request by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to hold two sessions in 1996, each of three weeks duration, be considered favourably, within the existing level of budgetary resources; request the Secretary-General to invite Governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations to submit their views on an optional protocol to the Convention -iii-