4. Many representatives emphasized that the Fourth World Conference on Women should promote a new vision of development based on women’s reality and rights and should be implemented in the spirit of solidarity between women and men, between nations and between present and future generations. 5. It should be a "Conference of Commitments" and the outcome of the Conference should be as practical and focused as possible. Efforts should be made to ensure that adequate resources, processes and mechanisms were put in place for the accountability and implementation of that new vision. It was emphasized that at Beijing, besides trying to create equality between men and women in a given world, it would be necessary to question the situation of that world itself and examine the processes and systems that were simultaneously producing new patterns of poverty and wealth. In that context, the need for consolidation and building of new bases of solidarity for international women’s movements and the creation of new partnerships with Governments and civil societies was stressed. 6. Many representatives said that the Fourth World Conference on Women would be an opportunity to take stock of the policies, programmes and measures devised for achieving women’s advancement in the 50 years of the existence of the United Nations and also to assess gains and failures. One representative suggested that the Conference should not be just a conference to reiterate commitments but to carry them forward. Some representatives suggested that the Fourth World Conference on Women should set standards for the first decade of the twentyfirst century, against which the performance of the international community and national actions would be judged. Therefore, it was imperative to be successful in consensus-building for setting progressive, innovative and forward-looking standards for Governments and the international community, centred on the United Nations system. (a) Preparatory activities at the national, regional and international levels 7. Most representatives expressed the view that the preparatory activities had been successful and noteworthy at all levels and particularly commended the work of non-governmental organizations. The preparations at the national level had been coordinated by National Committees composed of governmental and non-governmental institutions. Some representatives pointed out that the preparatory process, including the informal consultations held, had contributed to increasing awareness-raising at all levels and to enriching the Platform for Action. A few participants were of the view that the preparatory activities had given rise to intense communication and interaction among women as well as between all the sectors of society. In one country, consensus had been reached on actual and future challenges, as well as on actions to be taken. One representative highlighted the transparency and consultation of the preparatory process and said that a wealth of material had been obtained, on the basis of which the country position could be finalized. 8. In the context of the preparations for the Conference, one representative advised the Commission that efforts were being made with respect to the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 9. Some representatives reported on national activities that addressed the critical areas of concern. One representative reported on efforts of the Government to assist women victims of war and violence and about plans to conduct a national seminar that would address affirmative action with respect to the status of women. Another representative provided information on a variety -35-