E/2002/27 E/CN.6/2002/13 poor rural women, who could not take advantage of the trade-related opportunities of globalization, was an issue raised. Their lack of mobility was a factor that also had to be addressed. 8. Participants were concerned about the insufficient integration of macroeconomic goals and policies with social goals and policies and argued that the efficacy of macroeconomic policies did not hinge solely on economic factors, but also on specific social, political and infrastructural factors. Continuation of their present separation could thus reinforce and perpetuate existing inequalities between women and men and cause failure in achieving poverty reduction and the empowerment of women. While some progress had been made, further efforts were necessary at both the global and national levels to integrate social development objectives into macroeconomic policies in order to meet the goals of the Millennium Declaration. To that end, coordination between the economic, finance and social sectors should be promoted. 9. It was suggested that gender equality, like poverty eradication, was to be seen in the context of the struggle to fulfil all human rights and fundamental freedoms. It was therefore particularly important to put in place accountability mechanisms so as to ensure progress in achieving agreed-upon goals nationally and internationally. Participants identified a range of actors that were called upon to implement, and should be accountable for, policies and actions towards the empowerment of women and poverty eradication, including Governments, the private sector, the United Nations system, international financial institutions and civil society. Most importantly, women themselves, and women’s non-governmental organizations were identified as catalysts for their own empowerment. Networks and coalitions of women’s groups working across borders should be strengthened, as they provided opportunities for women to share experiences, address common problems and learn from positive examples. Efforts were necessary to ensure that a broader range of actors, for example, ministries of finance, take responsibility for integrating gender perspectives in sectoral policies and programmes and especially in national poverty eradication strategies. Emphasis was also placed on the role of men in the empowerment of women. 10. Participants underscored the importance of solidarity both within countries and internationally in order to eradicate poverty and achieve human 56 development. Speakers referred to the proposal of establishing a world solidarity fund for poverty eradication and the promotion of human and social development. The suggestion was also made to tap the worldwide movement of women’s solidarity for reviewing progress in the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action. 11. Speakers recalled that equality between women and men was a fundamental human right and a means for fostering human development. The empowerment of women required the promotion and protection of women’s human rights throughout their life cycle. Poverty eradication policies should thus be undertaken within a human rights framework, rather than strictly taking a social welfare approach. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was a very good tool for the eradication of poverty among women, especially with regard to education, health, women’s participation in decisionmaking and through temporary special measures, as called for in article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention. Speakers identified violence against women as an obstacle to poverty eradication and called for positive action to overcome it. The importance of combating multiple discrimination, particularly gender and racial discrimination, was also identified as a major issue. 12. The education of girls and women was a key entry point for poverty eradication and women’s empowerment. Concern was expressed that, notwithstanding the recognition of the benefits that resulted from investment in girls’ and adolescents’ education, insufficient progress was being made in increasing enrolment rates and literacy. Data and experience showed that investment in the education of girls and adolescents had one of the highest returns among investments in development. Educated women were also less vulnerable to diseases, including HIV/AIDS. Job training for women, in particular in non-traditional sectors, had poverty-reduction and empowerment effects. Women’s participation in decision-making was also highlighted as an aspect of empowerment. 13. Participants emphasized the role of employment and women’s access to and control over resources for poverty eradication and empowerment. In that regard, emphasis was placed on the availability of credit, land reform and women’s inheritance rights to enable them to become true economic actors. While microcredit was a good tool to support women in poverty, its