E/2008/27 E/CN.6/2008/11 Action taken by the Commission Agreed conclusions on financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women 61. At its resumed 16th meeting, on 13 March, the Vice-Chairperson of the Commission, Julio Peralta (Paraguay), reported on the outcome of informal consultations on the agreed conclusions on financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women, and introduced the draft agreed conclusions (E/CN.6/2008/L.8). 62. At the same meeting, a statement was made by the observer for Cuba. 63. Also at the 16th meeting, the Commission adopted the draft conclusions, as orally corrected, and decided to transmit them to the General Assembly as an input into the preparations for the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus (see chap. I, sect. A). 64. After the adoption of the agreed conclusions, statements were made by the representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, as well as by the observers for Slovenia (on behalf of the European Union) and Chile. Release of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts 65. At the 13th meeting, on 5 March, the representative of Azerbaijan introduced a draft resolution entitled “Release of women and children taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed conflicts” (E/CN.6/2008/L.1). 66. At the 16th meeting, on 7 March, the Commission was informed that the draft resolution contained no programme budget implications. 67. At the same meeting, the representative of Azerbaijan orally revised the text of the draft resolution as follows: (a) In operative paragraph 4, the words “prevent, combat and punish acts of hostage-taking” were revised to read “prevent and combat acts of hostage-taking”; (b) In operative paragraph 6, the words “or to bring to justice” were inserted in between the words “prosecute” and “in accordance with international law”. 68. Also at the same meeting, the representative of Azerbaijan made a statement and announced that Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Georgia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Morocco and Uzbekistan had joined in sponsoring the draft resolution. Subsequently, Kazakhstan, Mozambique, Nicaragua, the Russian Federation and Turkey joined in sponsoring the draft resolution, as orally revised. 69. Also at the 16th meeting, the Commission adopted the draft resolution, as orally revised (see chap. I, sect. D, resolution 52/1). 70. After the adoption of the draft resolution, a statement was made by the representative of the United States. 38 08-29062