14. The problem of migration, although universal, was more acute in some countries than in others. The representative of a non-governmental organization stressed the need for cooperative migration strategies. 15. A number of representatives pointed to the issue of AIDS and the risk of greater exposure of women in urban areas to the infection. One representative announced the implementation of a Global Issues Initiative on Population and AIDS within the framework of the official assistance programme to developing countries. The problem of HIV/AIDS was of particular concern because of the challenge of providing proper treatment of those infected. The need for effective preventive educational campaigns, housing and care for the families whose breadwinners were infected, including psychological counselling, was also stressed. 16. Some representatives noted the socio-economic interdependency between single rural women and urban migrant women in developing countries. Development policies that did not address the problems of urban and rural areas simultaneously often had a negative impact on women, such as forcing rural women to seek income in non-agricultural production. 17. One representative, on behalf of a group of countries, made concrete proposals for development programmes and projects aimed at direct assistance to women in urban slum areas for enhancing their residential environments, bettering their job possibilities and improving both health and education. The representative reported on the success of another project implemented in her country aimed at empowering destitute urban women and training them for participation in community decision-making. 18. Many representatives stated that unless the specific situation of women was taken into account, the impact of urbanization on women’s lives would remain negative. A few representatives observed out that if structural adjustment programmes implied budget cuts in such services as transportation, sanitation, and energy supply, women would be severely affected. One representative suggested that external support agencies could play an important role in making urban development more gender-sensitive. 19. Representatives stated that social policies in developed countries should address the problems of migrant women living in big cities. Urban life, while giving women access to educational and occupational opportunities, had paradoxically marginalized and impoverished them, exposing them to psychological stress, xenophobia and forced prostitution in extreme cases. Promoting and ensuring the human rights of those women therefore deserved special attention. In order to fully guarantee such rights, women should be much more involved in decision-making in urban planning. 20. Most of the representatives endorsed the recommendations adopted by the seminar on women in urban areas. However, one representative questioned the recommendation that the matter of nutrition should be addressed by Governments, stating that such matters should be the concern of communities. 21. Several representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations agreed that the root causes of migration should be addressed by creating the necessary favourable conditions for job opportunities in rural areas, thus curbing migration to urban areas. -73-