There was also a parallel meeting of the African Union, AU, which focused on women's health and the impact of HIV and Aids on women and girls as well as an Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, meeting which was also held in New York within the UN precinct at the same time which some of the Members of Parliament attended. The 55th session also focused on the theme of the 56th session in 2012: Empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty, hunger eradication and development challenges.