Chapter VII ORGANIZATION OF THE SESSION A. Opening and duration of the session 1. The Commission on the Status of Women held its forty-first session at United Nations Headquarters from 10 to 21 March 1997. The Commission held 16 meetings (1st to 16th). In accordance with Economic and Social Council decision 1996/240, 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 met during the session. 2. The session was opened by the Chairperson. 3. At its 1st meeting, on 10 March, the Commission held a special ceremony to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Commission and heard an address by the Secretary-General. 4. Statements were made by the Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development and the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women. 5. Statements were also made by the Chairperson and by the honoured guests. B. Attendance 6. The session was attended by representatives of 45 States members of the Commission. Observers for other States Members of the United Nations and for non-member States, 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 I to the present report. C. Election of officers 7. In accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1987/21, the officers elected to the Bureau of the Commission at its fortieth session were to serve as officers during the forty-first session. At the 1st meeting, on 10 March, having been informed that Rafika Khouini (Tunisia) and Karin Stoltenberg (Norway) would be unable to continue to serve as Vice-Chairpersons, the Commission elected two new Vice-Chairpersons. The Bureau therefore comprised: Chairperson: Sharon Brennen-Haylock (Bahamas) Vice-Chairpersons: Ljudmila Boskova (Bulgaria) Zakia Amara Bouaziz (Tunisia) Eva Hildrum (Norway) Rapporteur: Sweeya Santipitaks (Thailand) -74-