Chapter VII ORGANIZATION OF THE SESSION A. Opening and duration of the session 1. The Commission on the Status of Women held its fortieth session at United Nations Headquarters from 11 to 22 March 1996. The Commission held 16 meetings (1st to 16th). In accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1995/29, a number of informal meetings of an 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 were also held. 2. The session was opened by the Chairperson of the thirty-ninth session, Patricia Licuanan (Philippines), who also made a statement. B. Attendance 3. The session was attended by representatives of the 45 States members of the Commission. Observers for other States Members of the United Nations and for non-member States, representatives of organizations of the United Nations system and observers for intergovernmental, non-governmental and other organizations also attended. A list of participants is contained in annex I to the present report. C. Election of officers 4. At the 1st and 2nd meetings, on 11 March, the Commission elected the following officers by acclamation: Chairperson: Sharon Brennen-Haylock (Bahamas) Vice-Chairpersons: Rapporteur: Ljudmila Boskova (Bulgaria) Rafika Khouini (Tunisia) Karin Stoltenberg (Norway) Sweeya Santipitaks (Thailand) D. Agenda and organization of work 5. At the 1st meeting, on 11 March, the Commission adopted its provisional agenda and approved its organization of work, as contained in document E/CN.6/1996/1. The provisional agenda read as follows: 1. Election of officers. 2. Adoption of the agenda and other organizational matters. 3. Follow-up to the Fourth World Conference on Women: (a) Mandate, methods of work and multi-year work programme of the Commission on the Status of Women; -93-