15 March 2012: The 56th session of the Commission on the Status of Women opened at UN Headquarters in New York on 27 February 2012 and was scheduled to have concluded on 9 March. Protracted negotiations on the agreed conclusions extend its work by one week, but the session closed without a final document.

The Head of UN-Women, Michelle Bachelet, expressed deep regret at the Commission’s failure to adopt the agreed conclusions, adding that, despite its disappointing conclusion, the session had witnessed dynamic discussions on the empowerment of rural women and strengthening of their role in achieving sustainable development.

Bachelet said the session had provided an opportunity for the sharing of good practices and presentation of new ideas on how national policies, legal reforms and services can change the lives of rural women and girls. Noting that the next session of the Commission would focus on the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls, she stressed that there could be no lasting or sustainable development until such violence is eradicated. She then urged all delegations to take advantage of the months ahead to prepare for the session, in order to ensure its success and productivity. [UN Press Release]