What is the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean?

The Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean is a subsidiary body of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) which is convened on a regular basis, at least every three years, to identify women’s needs at the regional and subregional levels, present recommendations, undertake periodic assessments of the activities carried out in fulfilment of regional and international plans and agreements on the subject, and serve as a forum for debates on relevant issues.

Who convenes the sessions of the Conference?

ECLAC has been given the mandate to convene the member States to sessions of the Regional Conference.

In accordance with the corresponding regulations, no later than six weeks prior to each session of the Regional Conference, the ECLAC secretariat sends out invitations to the member countries and associate members of the Commission to participate in the deliberations. Other States Members of the United Nations and representatives of other bodies and programmes forming part of the United Nations system are invited to attend as observers, as are representatives of intergovernmental organizations and of non-governmental organizations enjoying consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, and special guests.

Place and date of the eleventh session of the Conference

Generally, a member country of ECLAC offers to host the conference. On this occasion, the Government of Brazil will host the meeting and has proposed that it be held from 13 to 16 July 2010.