24 May 1990

13th Plenary Meeting

1990/14. Action to increase awareness of the slow progress in the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women

The Economic and Social Council,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on progress at the national, regional and international levels in the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women,

Aware of the fact that, although some progress was reported in the area of de jure equality, progress in de facto equality is slow in both developing and developed countries,

Deeply concerned about the seriousness of the situation in many developing countries, where economic stagnation or negative growth, continued population increase, the growing burden of debt, and reduction of public expenditures for social programmes as part of unavoidable adjustment-oriented policies have further constrained the opportunities for women to improve their situation,

Alarmed by trends, in particular in some developing countries, that suggest that there has been a regression in the status of women in education, employment and health, as well as slow or no progress in achieving the full integration of women in development or the full participation of women in efforts to promote peace,

Conscious of the fact that, in many countries, the national machinery for the advancement of women lacks the necessary technology and resources to gather and disseminate information or to formulate policies in favour of women,

Taking into account the fact that in many countries the issue of the advancement of women is receiving low priority,

Bearing in mind the role assigned to the United Nations system in the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women,

1. Urges Governments to make renewed commitments to implement the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women by strengthening their national machinery and increasing the resources devoted to programmes for the advancement of women;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to carry out, through the Department of Public Information of the United Nations Secretariat, a world-wide educational campaign to increase awareness of the obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Nairobi Forward-looking Strategies, in particular:

(a) Obstacles to de facto equality in political participation and decision-making;

(b) Obstacles to the advancement of women in education, employment and health, in particular in developing countries, giving special attention to problems confronted by women living in extreme poverty, rural women and women in the informal sector of the economy;

(c) Obstacles to the participation of women in the peace process;

3. Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the Economic and Social Council at its first regular session of 1991, through the Commission on the Status of Women, on the implementation of the present resolution.