E/1999/27 E/CN.6/1999/10 Chapter IV Communications concerning the status of women 1. The Commission considered item 5 of its agenda at its 12th meeting (a closed meeting), on 10 March 1999. 2. Pursuant to Economic and Social Council resolution 1983/27, the Commission established a working group to consider communications concerning the status of women. The following five members, nominated by their regional groups, were appointed: Esmaeil Afshari (Islamic Republic of Iran); Aleksandra Duda (Poland); Diénébou Kaba Camara (Côte d’Ivoire); Didier Le Bret (France); and Eduardo Tapia (Chile). The Working Group held seven meetings. Action taken by the Commission Report of the Working Group on Communications on the Status of Women 3. At the 12th meeting (a closed meeting), on 10 March, the Commission considered the report of the Working Group on Communications on the Status of Women (E/CN.6/1999/CRP.5). 4. At the same meeting, the Commission took note of the report of the Working Group and agreed to include it in the report of the Commission. The report of the Working Group is as follows: “1. The Working Group on Communications on the Status of Women was guided in its deliberations by the mandate given by the Economic and Social Council in its resolution 76 (V) of 5 August 1947, as amended by the Council in its resolutions 304 I (XI) of 14 and 17 July 1950 and 1983/27 of 26 May 1983. “2. The Working Group considered the list of confidential communications (see E/CN.6/1999/SW/COMM.LIST/33 and Add.1) and of non-confidential communications (see E/CN.6/1999/CR.35) concerning the status of women. “3. The Working Group took note of the 13 confidential communications and two non-confidential communications received directly by the Division for the Advancement of Women of the United Nations Secretariat and of the 83 confidential communications received by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. It also took note of the fact that no confidential communications had been received by other United Nations bodies or specialized agencies. “4. The Working Group expressed its deep concern in relation to the continuing grave violations of women’s human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, and the persistent and pervasive discrimination against women. “5. The Working Group was concerned at the continuing abusive treatment of women, including custodial deaths, torture, rape, abduction, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, forced abortions and sterilizations, harassment and arson by security forces, including military and police forces, or by other governmental authorities, particularly where separatist movements were reported. “6. The Working Group was concerned by the targeting of civilians, including women and children, for bombing, and by internally displaced persons being subject to confiscation of property, torture and floggings, harassment and forcible evictions in 41