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McKinnon calls for full involvement of Women in Economic Development

30 September 2004

'Mainstreaming Informal Employment and Gender in Poverty Reduction'
'Mainstreaming Informal Employment and Gender in Poverty Reduction'

"The Commonwealth is determined to provide all women with the opportunities they need to better their lives. No society can reach its full potential without fully involving women. We must make sure that women are enabled to play a full part in their country's economic future," said Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon. 

Mr McKinnon was speaking at the launch of two Commonwealth Secretariat publications on 29 September 2004 in St Kitts and Nevis, held to coincide with the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting. The books -- 'Mainstreaming Informal Employment and Gender in Poverty Reduction' and 'Chains of Fortune: Linking Women Producers and Workers with Global Markets' -- are part of a Secretariat series on gender mainstreaming in critical development issues. 

The Secretary-General said women made up half the world's population. Excluding them from the process of economic development means, "You're only getting half the economic growth, half the improvement in health and education. Gender equality is central to the economic success of any country." 

The new publications will help raise awareness of the crucial role women play in the economic development of a country. They highlight the importance of recognising this role, particularly when women are in informal employment; and the need to ensure that they have greater access to international trade markets. 

The books provide practical, tangible solutions to help maximise women's role in the economic growth of their communities.  

"We hope that these positive examples serve to highlight the kinds of policies and programmes that can be put in place to enable women producers, entrepreneurs and wage workers to derive greater benefits from globalisation," Mr McKinnon said.

Purchase these books from the publications website.

See Also:
New Publication: Chains of Fortune: Linking Women producers and workers with global markets

 

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