TNAG-2227-FCO40-3199-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Commonwealth-count-1991 — Page 47

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The structural adjustment process provides important opportunities to re-evaluate the ways in which women and men from all parts of society can best contribute to and benefit from economic and social development. As compared to men,

there are considerably more complex demands on women's time from their multiple roles as economic producers, mothers and caregivers, household managers and community organisers.

Adjustment programmes must be designed to ensure a more equitable sharing between women and men not only of the programmes' costs but also of the rewards and benefits accruing. It is only in

It is only in this way that women's active participation and wide-ranging contributions to the economy - too often unrecognised because unpaid can be brought into the process.

Therefore, we commit our governments and commend to others the following programme of action:

(i) To reform social, administrative and legal structures to give women full and effective rights to land, finance and other resources. Such reforms will remove barriers to women's ability to participate in, contribute to and benefit from productive activity in a market economy.

(ii) To invest in enhancing women's productive activities, especially in key areas such as enterprise development, agricultural production and food security. Improved access to appropriate technologies, extension services, transportation and training can increase productivity for women's own benefit and that of the economy as a

whole.

(iii)To ensure that incentives to participate in new opportunities and growth sectors do reach women, and that market structures are created which are as open to women as they are to men. Particular support will be provided where necessary to enable women to take advantage of more open and competitive markets, including greater access to and more flexible and innovative terms of credit.

(iv) To ensure

ensure that public policy and expenditures are conducive to the provision of basic goods and services to support women's multiple activities. Increased public expenditure on nutrition, education and health programmes that support women is vital in ensuring they have time to make use of new productive capacity and respond to new market incentives. This is necessary for long-run human resource development. A particular priority is to increase access to schooling for girls. This will have positive effects on child health and survival, population growth rates, family well-being and economic productivity. Such emphases must be embodied in programmes that are accountable to women and responsive to their needs.

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