6. At the same meeting, statements were made by the representative of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (on behalf of the regional commissions) and the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 7. Statements were also made by the observers for the International Federation of University Women and the International Council of Women, non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council. 8. At the 11th meeting, on 17 March, statements were made by the representatives of Japan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, India, the Philippines, Peru, Tunisia, Kenya, Slovakia, Malaysia, Morocco, Costa Rica, Mali, Congo and Guinea and the observers for Bangladesh, the Syrian Arab Republic, Antigua and Barbuda (on behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the Caribbean Community), Côte d’Ivoire, Canada, Nigeria, Algeria, Liechtenstein, Bahrain and Cuba. 9. The observer for Palestine also made a statement. 10. Statements were made by the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund and the Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women. 11. The Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women also made a statement. 12. The observer for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, an intergovernmental organization, made a statement. 13. At the 12th meeting, on 17 March, statements were made by the representatives of the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Children’s Fund. 14. The representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations also made a statement. 15. Statements were made by the observers for two caucuses of non-governmental organizations and by observers for the following non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council: International Federation of Business and Professional Women, International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, Soroptimist International and World Islamic Call Society. Implementation of strategic objectives and action in the critical area of concern: women and the environment (agenda item 3 (c) (i)) 16. At its 3rd meeting, on 11 March, the Commission held a panel discussion on women and the environment and heard presentations by the following experts: Christina Amoako-Nuama, Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Ghana; Sirpa Peitikäinen, Economist and former Minister of Environment, Finland; Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development; Khawar Mumtaz, Coordinator, Shirkat Gah - Women’s Resource Centre; Rachel Kyte, World Conservation Union. 17. At the same meeting, the Commission held a dialogue among Governments, in which the following delegations participated: Ecuador, Israel, Argentina, Costa Rica, Zambia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, United States of America, Chile, China, Ghana, Spain and Malaysia. -36-