E/2014/27 E/CN.6/2014/15 Strengthening the enabling environment for gender equality and the empowerment of women (jj) Work towards ensuring that global trade, financial and investment agreements are conducive to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and the human rights of women and girls, and complement national development efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls, including through reaffirming the critical role of an open, equitable, rules-based, predictable, non-discriminatory multilateral trading system, and strengthen the effectiveness of the support of the global economic system for development by encouraging the mainstreaming of a gender perspective into development policies at all levels in all sectors; (kk) Underline commitments to strengthen national efforts, including with the support of international cooperation, aimed at addressing the rights and needs of women and girls affected by natural disasters, armed conflicts, other complex humanitarian emergencies, trafficking in persons and terrorism, within the context of actions geared to the realization of the internationally agreed goals and commitments related to gender equality and the empowerment of women, including the Millennium Development Goals, recognizing the challenges they face, and also underline the need to take concerted actions, in conformity with international law, to remove the obstacles to the full realization of the rights of women and girls living under foreign occupation, so as to ensure the achievement of the above-mentioned goals and commitments, recognizing the challenges they face; (ll) Implement macroeconomic policies that, together with labour and social policies, promote full and productive employment and decent work for all and gender equality and the empowerment of women, to enhance economic efficiency and optimize the contribution of women to economic growth and poverty reduction, and increase awareness among decision makers, the private sector and employers of the necessity of women’s economic empowerment and their important contribution; (mm) Strengthen the role of women in the formal and informal sectors, including in cross-border trade and agriculture, put in place measures needed to improve women’s access to markets and productive resources, and make markets safe for women, including those living in rural areas, and thereby ensure that businesses and farms owned by women and men have equal opportunities in markets; (nn) Identify and develop strategies to expand trade opportunities for women producers and facilitate the active participation of women in national, regional and global trade; (oo) Take measures to ensure that, in global and national policy responses to financial and economic crises and to excessive, volatile food and energy prices, any negative impacts on gender equality and the empowerment of women are minimized, including on employment and funding for essential services and social protection systems, and that particular support is given to the most disadvantaged and vulnerable persons, and that gender equality and 14-02869 21/95