The 49th session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place in New York from 28 February - 11 March 2005. The Commission will be focusing on two thematic issues as outlined in its multi-year programme of work: A review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome documents of the special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century"; and Current challenges and forward looking strategies for the advancement and empowerment of women and girls.