Annex III REPORT OF THE OPEN-ENDED WORKING GROUP ON THE ELABORATION OF A DRAFT OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN 1. In accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1995/29 of 24 July 1995, 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 as an in-session open-ended working group of the Commission at its fortieth session. By decision 1996/240 of 22 July 1996, the Council renewed the mandate of the Working Group so that it might continue its work, and authorized it to meet in parallel with the Commission at its forty-first session. 2. Ms. Aloisia Wörgetter (Austria) continued to serve as Chairperson of the Working Group. 3. The Working Group met from 10 to 20 March 1997. It held three meetings (1st to 3rd) and a number of informal meetings. It had before it the following documents: (a) Report of the Secretary-General containing a comparative summary of existing communications and inquiry procedures and practices under international human rights instruments and under the Charter of the United Nations (E/CN.6/1997/4); (b) Report of the Secretary-General containing additional views of Governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations on an optional protocol to the Convention (E/CN.6/1997/5); (c) Note by the Secretariat containing a compilation text prepared by the Chairperson, based on proposals made by members of the Open-ended Working Group at its first session, on views submitted by Governments and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and on elements suggested by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (E/CN.6/1997/WG/L.1); (d) Report of the Open-ended Working Group (E/CN.6/1997/WG/L.2); (e) Revised draft optional protocol submitted by the Chairperson on the basis of the compilation text contained in document E/CN.6/1997/WG/L.1 and proposals made at the forty-first session of the Commission (E/CN.6/1997/WG/L.3 and Add.1). 4. The Chairperson opened the meeting and made a statement. 5. At the 1st meeting, on 10 March, the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, made an introductory statement. 6. At the same meeting, the representative of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women made a statement in her capacity as a resource person, in accordance with Economic and Social Council decision 1996/240. -84-