Women in rural areas

XXX. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE THIRD COMMITTEE
3523. Women in rural areas

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 3276 (XXIX) of 10 December 1974, in which it decided to consider at its thirtieth session an item entitled "International Women's Year, including the proposals and recommendations of the Conference of the International Women's Year", Taking into account resolution 21[1] adopted by the World Conference of the International Women's Year, held at Mexico City from 19 June to 2 July 1975, the principles contained in the Declaration of Mexico on the Equality of Women and Their Contribution to Development and Peace, 1975,[2] the World Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Women's Year[3] and the relevant resolutions bearing on the contribution of women to equality, peace and development, Realizing the importance of adherence to the recommendations of the World Plan of Action, especially those related to women in rural and low-income areas, Considering the vital role rural women play, not only within the family unit but also in the process of national development, through agriculture and particularly through food production and distribution, Bearing in mind that in many parts of the world illiteracy, lack of education and training, inadequate distribution of human and economic resources, and severe unemployment and underemployment problems for women have hindered them from contributing fully to national development efforts, Convinced that the struggle for development is a primary responsibility of all peoples and Governments, taking into account the principles of the Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States[4] and the Declaration and the Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Economic Order,[5] Noting the need for both quantitative and qualitative data on the position of women and their role in all rural activities, Noting also the activities relating to rural women undertaken to date by the United Nations bodies and specialized agencies concerned, Noting further the need for co-ordinated and systematic examination of the situation of rural women and their role in all rural activities,

1. Urges all Governments to accord, within their respective plans, higher priority for:

(a) Gathering relevant data on the status and role of women in rural and low-income areas;

(b) Achieving socio-economic conditions based on the realization of the full and equal partnership of men and women in the development of society, both in law and in fact;

(c) Promoting agricultural productivity, agro-based industries and integrated rural development programmes;

2. Requests the Secretary-General to prepare and submit, through the Economic and Social Council, on the basis of the views of relevant United Nations bodies and specialized agencies as well as those of Governments, guidelines for non-formal educational programmes designed to enable rural women to use fully their capabilities and to contribute to the development of society;

3. Urges United Nations organizations, specialized agencies, regional commissions and international financial institutions to accord special attention to government programmes and projects aimed at the full integration of rural women in development;

4. Urges all Governments to develop extensive training programmes relevant to women and to make full use of all existing and proposed research institutes and centres, particularly the regional and international institutes and centres for the advancement of women in rural areas;

5. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States and the specialized agencies and organizations of the United Nations system, to report to the General Assembly biennially on the progress achieved in connexion with the work referred to in the previous paragraphs.

2441st plenary meeting
15 December 1975

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[1] Ibid. [2] Ibid., chap. I. [3] Ibid., chap. II, sect. A. [4] Resolution 3281 (XXIX). [5] Resolutions 3201 (S-VI) and 3202 (S-VI).