For gender equality in society ?Men and boys play a crucial role in achieving gender equality and empowerment of women and any domestic or international policy must reflect this vital issue,? India declared to the world at the forty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), held at the UN Headquarters in New York, from March 1-12, 2004. The theme of the current session as outlined in its multi-year programme of work, was ?The role of men in achieving gender equality,? and ?Women’sequal participation in conflict prevention, management and conflict resolution and in post-conflict peace building.? The stand of India was represented at the session by Dr Poornima Advani, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, and Parul Debi Das, Joint Secretary, Department of Women and Child Development. Making India’sstand clear, Dr Advani said, ?When it comes to policies and planning on women-related issues, India has already shifted its focus away from looking at women in isolation to overall gender relations in families.? She further said that this attitude had made a good impact in improving the condition of women and had also been appreciated at various international forums. ?Even on the issue of women and conflict, India’sposition has been that one should move away from viewing women solely as victims of conflict and instead look at them as important providers for families during conflicts,? she said. ?India made it clear in the conference that the role of women in nation building is crucial,? she said and in this regard she quoted Shri Vivekananda as saying: ?If a bird has to fly high, both its wings have to function equally well.? Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that are accredited to the Economic and Social Council were eligible to designate representatives to attend the session. Over 900 representatives from all over the world attended the session. NGOs were also permitted to provide input for the session by presenting oral interventions. A total of 16 regional and international NGOs made interventions. The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was established as a functional commission of the Economic and Social Council by a resolution in 1946 to prepare recommendations and reports for the Council on promoting women’srights in political, economic, civil, social and educational fields. The Commission also makes recommendations for the Council on problems requiring immediate attention in the field of women’srights. The object of the Commission is to promote implementation of the principle that men and women have equal rights. ?Preeti
