E/1999/27 E/CN.6/1999/10 1. Reaffirms the Beijing Platform for Action, adopted by the Fourth World Conference on Women,25 notably chapter IV.H on institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women26 and Economic and Social Council agreed conclusions 1997/2 on mainstreaming the gender perspective into all policies and programmes in the United Nations system;27 2. Recognizes that the effectiveness and sustainability of national machineries are highly dependent on their embeddedness in the national context, the political and socioeconomic system and the needs of and accountability to women, including those with the least access to resources; in addition, recognizes that sharing information at the regional and international levels is crucial for strengthening national machineries and other related institutional mechanisms; that gender equality is advanced through the promotion and protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, respect for democracy, peace and development; and that the full involvement of women and men is essential; 3. Further recognizes that gender mainstreaming is a tool for effective policy-making at all levels and not a substitute for targeted, women-specific policies and programmes, equality legislation, national machineries for the advancement of women and the establishment of gender focal points; 4. Acknowledges that national machineries are necessary for the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action; and that for national machineries to be effective, clear mandates, location at the highest possible level, accountability mechanisms, partnership with civil society, a transparent political process, adequate financial and human resources and continued strong political commitment are crucial; 5. Stresses the importance of international cooperation in order to assist the work of national mechanisms in all countries especially developing countries; 6. Welcomes Economic and Social Council decision 1998/298, by which the Council decided to devote the high-level segment of its 1999 substantive session to the advancement of women; 7. Proposes, in order to accelerate the implementation of the strategic objectives of chapter IV.H of the Beijing Platform for Action, that the following action be taken: 25 26 27 18 See Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4–15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13). General Assembly resolution 34/180, annex. See Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-second Session, Supplement No. 3 (A/52/3), chap. IV, sect. A, para. 4.