23 May 1986

19th plenary meeting

Implementation of the Arusha Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of African Women Beyond the United Nations Decade for Women

The Economic and Social Council,

Aware of the draft resolution on the strengthening of the Commission on the Status of Women which was before the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace,

Aware also of the draft resolution on the assistance of non-governmental organizations to women and children, particularly in drought-stricken countries, which was before the Conference,

Recalling with appreciation the resources, time and effort devoted by organizations of the United Nations system, the Member States and non-governmental organizations to the advancement of women during the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace,

Recalling the seriousness and unity of purpose that reigned at Nairobi during the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women: Equality, Development and Peace, and in the drafting of the Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women, which promise continuity in the pursuit of the Decade's objectives of equality, development and peace for all women,

Mindful of the diminishing resources available for development in Africa,

Gravely concerned by the world economic crisis affecting African countries in particular, and by the difficulties encountered by national machineries in mobilizing funds for programmes that would benefit women,

1. Recommends that the Commission on the Status of Women should be strengthened to enable it to monitor the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women;

2. Appeals to the African Member States to include in their plans the Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of African Women Beyond the United Nations Decade for Women identified at the intergovernmental preparatory meeting held at Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, from 8 to 12 October 1984 and incorporated in the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies, and to ensure their implementation;

3. Appeals to the organizations of the United Nations, Governments, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to support the implementation of the five-year plan for the implementation of the Arusha Forward-looking Strategies in African Member States under the following priority areas of special concern:

(a) Agriculture and food production;

(b) Impact of desertification on the condition of women;

(c) Industrial development;

(d) Human resources development;

(e) Apartheid in South Africa and Namibia;

(f) Refugee and displaced women;

(g) Monitoring changes in the situation of women in Africa;

4. Calls upon United Nations organizations, the African Member States and non-governmental organizations to assist in the periodic holding of regional conferences to review and appraise the implementation of the Forward-looking Strategies;

5. Calls upon United Nations organizations and intergovernmental and non-governmental funding agencies to devise a clear, practical and efficient system of mobilizing and channelling funds for women's programmes and projects in Africa;

6. Calls upon the Secretary-General and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to co-operate in establishing a mechanism for monitoring the implementation of the Forward-looking Strategies, the progress made in achieving the objectives of the Decade for Women, and the changing situation of women in Africa.