Urges States parties to comply fully with their obligations under the Convention and the Optional Protocol thereto and to take into consideration the concluding comments as well as the general recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; strongly urges States parties to the Convention to take appropriate measures so that acceptance of the amendment to article 20, para. 1, of the Convention by a two-thirds majority of States parties can be reached as soon as possible and the amendment can enter into force; decides to authorize the Committee to hold 3 annual sessions of 3 weeks each, with a one-week pre-sessional working group for each session, for an interim period effective from Jan. 2010, pending the entry into force of the amendment to article 20, para. 1, of the Convention, and to authorize 3 annual sessions of the Working Group on Communications under the Optional Protocol to the Convention; also decides to authorize the Committee to meet on an exceptional and temporary basis in the biennium 2008-2009 in a total of 5 sessions, of which 3 would occur in parallel chambers, taking due account of equitable geographical distribution, for the purpose of considering reports of States parties submitted under article 18 of the Convention; and further decides that 2 of the 5 sessions shall be held at UN Headquarters in New York.

Adopted 154-1-0, 79th plenary meeting

5 p.

Issued in GAOR, 62nd sess., Suppl. no. 49.