Editorial.

The United Nation (UN)'s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) was established in 1946 as a Commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Its function is to prepare recommendations and reports to the ECOSOC on promoting women's rights in civil, political, economic and social fields. The CSW also makes recommendations to the ECOSOC on urgent women's rights problems requiring attention.

The CSW's mandate was expanded in 1987 by the ECOSOC's Resolution 1987/22. Following the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China in 1995, the General Assembly (GA) mandated the CSW to integrate into its programme follow-up to the Conference by regularly reviewing the critical areas of concern covered by the Beijing Platform for Action (PFA) and by mainstreaming gender into the UN. In 2000, the twenty-third special session of the GA conducted a review of progress made in implementing the Beijing PFA. The GA adopted a Political Declaration and Further Actions and Initiatives to Implement the Beijing Declaration and PFA. The work of the CSW is to ensure effective execution.

The 48th session of the CSW discussed two thematic issues in addition to other items regularly on its agenda. Focusing on selected thematic issues allows the CSW to accelerate implementation of the recommendations, refine the global policy framework for gender equality and ensure action at all levels. It also provides the opportunity to reinforce links between implementation of these gender-specific and other global policy instruments, such as the Millennium Declaration and Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security.

The role of men and boys in achieving Gender Equality.

The Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) convened an online discussion and an experts' group meeting to support preparations on this thematic issue. The online discussion engaged over 300 participants from 70 countries in discussing the role of men and boys in achieving gender equality. Activists, practitioners and researchers from 28 different countries made more than 80 substantive postings.

In collaboration with the International...