United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women

This report is a compilation of the agreed conclusions adopted by the UN's Commission on the Status of Women over a 15-year period. The agreed conclusions are the principle output of the Commission's annual meeting sessions and relate to the issues(s) regarding women that the Commission identifies as "priority themes" for the year. The compilations in this report span from the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing to the 23rd special session of the General Assembly in 2010 (the Fourth World Conference on Women led to the Beijing Declaration and

The Commission on the Status of Women meets annually to formulate policy recommendations and monitor the implementation of their previous recommendations. After the Fourth World Conference for Women in Beijing in 1995, the Commission was mandated to regularly review the critical areas of concern from the Beijing Platform. In 1996, they were charged with identifying new issues affecting gender equality. This document compiles the conclusions from the Fourth World Conference, a fifteen-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration

This concept paper provides an overview of trafficking in women and girls in Eastern Europe and the Newly Independent States. The author points to poor social and economic conditions, lack of employment opportunities, unequal status of women and the demand for cheap labour in destination countries as factors that increase the vulnerability of women to trafficking. The author urges governments to prioritize human rights and consider the multi-faceted nature of trafficking in the creation of comprehensive strategies to prevent and eradicate trafficking.

This paper argues for a gender and human rights-based development perspective. It begins with a brief overview of global trends in trafficking and an analysis of current measures to combat this activity. The majority of the paper focuses on a gender and rights-based approach as a framework for analysis and action that would recognize and address gender inequalities, ensure the protection of human rights as well as equip women, men, girls and boys to deal with discrimination and exploitation. Gender and rights issues throughout the trafficking process are also identified.