Chapter 1 - Preamble

Section 1 - Social & Economic Dimensions

Section 2 - Conservation and Management of Resources

Section 3 - Strengthening the Role of Major Groups
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32

Section 4 - Means of Implementation

Complete text of Agenda 21: Chapter 24
Chapter 24: Women in Sustainable Development

Women have considerable knowledge and experience in managing and conserving natural resources. However, the role of women in achieving sustainable development has been limited by such barriers as discrimination and lack of access to schooling, land and equal employment.

Governments should consider developing strategies by the year 2000 to eliminate constitutional, legal, administrative, cultural, behavioural, social and economic obstacles to women’s full participation in sustainable development and public life.

Countries should increase the proportion of women decision-makers, planners, scientists, technical advisers, managers and extension workers in environment and development fields. It is important to eliminate female illiteracy, assure girls of universal access to primary and secondary education, and provide increased post-secondary training for women in sciences and technology.

To promote the ability of women to play a greater role in sustainable development, governments should:

• Ensure a role for women in national and international ecosystem management and control of environment degradation.
• Provide comprehensive health care, including prenatal care and the opportunity to breast-feed, and information on maternal and child health, family planning and responsible parenthood.
• Help to reduce the heavy workload on women and girls at home and outside, by working with employers and other organizations to set up affordable nurseries and kindergartens. National programmes are needed to encourage men to share household tasks equally with women.
• Provide women with better access to all forms of credit, particularly in the informal sector.
• Ensure women’s access to property rights, as well as agricultural inputs and implements.
• Take all necessary measures to eliminate violence against women, and work to eliminate persistent negative images, stereotypes, attitudes and prejudices against women.
• Develop consumer awareness among women to reduce or eliminate unsustainable consumption, particularly in industrialized countries. This would encourage manufacturers to offer products that are more environmentally and socially friendly.
• Begin to count the value of unpaid work, including "domestic" work when measuring the state of the economy.

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