5. Economic relationships are also changing. The prolonged global economic recession has led to a restructuring of the economic relationships between countries and, in some regions, a decline in national as well as personal income and well-being. It has been accompanied by a growing reliance on market economies. The role of transnational corporations has increased. New areas of economic growth have emerged, especially in areas related to new technologies in information, health and related services. Global patterns of employment have been changing and women have begun to form the labour force in new growth sectors in all regions. At the same time, the capacity to provide services and make long-term investments through the public sector has been reduced, and poverty, both absolute and relative, has increased, accompanied by widespread migration of both women and men in search of employment. 6. Evidence of accelerating depletion of natural resources and other environmental problems has resulted in a global consensus on the need to see development in terms of sustainability over the long term. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development identified women as key actors in the management and protection of natural resources, particularly in rural areas. 7. There has been renewed attention to human development seen in terms of the life cycle of the individual, progressing from childhood and youth through old age, and people’s needs at different stages should be taken into account in policies and planning. There is a recognition that the generations are interdependent, that the youth of today will be the ageing of tomorrow and that the older generation transmits enduring values to the new generation. 8. As societies are being transformed, so too are the relationships between women and men. Differences between women’s and men’s achievements and participation are recognized as the result of socially constructed gender roles rather than biological differences. The sexual division of labour between productive roles and reproductive roles has become increasingly blurred as women have entered the workplace in growing numbers and their productive contribution in other spheres has received greater recognition, and as men have taken greater responsibility for domestic tasks, including the care of children. A focus on gender roles rather than on women alone is needed to emphasize the evolving partnership between men and women in a changing world. 9. Notably, despite common problems, the world is not homogeneous, and there are regional and national differences. But these differences are often a matter of degree rather than essence, a matter of resources and capacity available for solution rather than characteristic of the problems to be solved. Women are not a homogeneous group and there are differences among women with different life experiences. Young women, ageing women, disabled, migrant, refugee or displaced women all have special concerns. However, they also share many of the same concerns derived from their gender. As a result, both the diversity and the commonality of women’s experience, knowledge, vision and hopes constitute a source of strength and the basis for believing that the mission of this Platform for Action can be achieved. III. CRITICAL AREAS OF CONCERN 10. The text proposed by the Secretary-General constituted a good starting point. The discussion during the thirty-eighth session of the Commission provided an opportunity to expand the text, ensure inclusion of priority concerns and deepen the analysis. The discussion resulted in a number of proposed changes. -32-