E/2003/27 E/CN.6/2003/12 Chapter III Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women and to the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century” 1. The Commission considered agenda item 3 at its 1st to 8th, 10th, 11th and 13th to 15th meetings, from 3 to 6 March, 10, 11, 13,14 and 25 March 2003. It had before it the following documents: (a) Report of the Secretary-General on measures taken and progress achieved in the follow-up to and implementation of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”, especially in mainstreaming a gender perspective in entities of the United Nations system (E/CN.6/2003/2); (b) Report of the Secretary-General on the situation of and assistance to Palestinian women (E/CN.6/2003/3); (c) Report of the Secretary-General on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan (E/CN.6/2003/4); (d) Report of the Secretary-General on the joint work plan of the Division for the Advancement of Women and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (E/CN.4/2003/73-E/CN.6/2003/5); (e) Report of the Secretary-General on the participation in and access of women to the media, and information and communication technologies and their impact on and use as an instrument for the advancement and empowerment of women (E/CN.6/2003/6); (f) Report of the Secretary-General on women’s human rights and the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls as defined in the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (E/CN.6/2003/7 and Corr.1); (g) Report of the Secretary-General on improvement of the status of women in the United Nations system (E/CN.6/2003/8); (h) Note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the United Nations Development Fund for Women on the elimination of violence against women (E/CN.6/2003/11); (i) Statement submitted by International Alliance of Women, International Council of Women, International Federation of Business and Professional Women, Soroptimist International and Zonta International, non-governmental organizations in general consultative status with the Economic and Social Council; Associated Country Women of the World, Center for Women, the Earth, the Divine, InterAfrican Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children, International Council of Jewish Women, International Council of Women, International Federation for Home Economics, National Council of German Women’s Organizations, Pax Romana, School Sisters of Notre Dame, Socialist International Women, the Salvation Army and Women’s International Zionist 19