A/RES/54/210 Page 3 Recognizing further the continued need to review the impact of structural adjustment programmes in order to reduce any adverse impact on women, especially in terms of cutbacks in social services, education and health and the removal of subsidies on food and fuel, Emphasizing the promotion of programmes aimed at financial intermediation with a view to ensuring the access of rural women to credit and to agricultural inputs and implements and, in particular, to easing collateral requirements for access to finance by women, Recognizing that the informal sector is a major source of entrepreneurship and employment for women in developing countries and that data collection on its important contribution should be improved, Expressing its concern about the under-representation of women in economic decision-making, and stressing the importance of mainstreaming a gender perspective in all policy formulation, implementation and evaluation, Recognizing that the increase in women’s participation in paid employment contributes to the empowerment of women and gender equality by promoting the status, independence, self-esteem and decision-making power of women, but also that this alone may be insufficient, since, in general, the burden of household work and primary responsibility of women for childcare can give rise to an onerous double working day for most women, Stressing the need for a family-friendly work environment, including appropriate working hours, affordable childcare and flexible working hours, and emphasizing the principle of shared responsibility between women and men for the achievement of gender equality, Noting the importance of the organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, in particular its funds and programmes, including the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, in facilitating the advancement of women in development, 1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the 1999 World Survey on the Role of Women in Development: Globalization, Gender and Work;4 2. Calls for the accelerated and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action2 and the relevant provisions contained in the outcomes of all other major United Nations conferences and summits, and in this regard expresses the hope that the special session of the General Assembly entitled “Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century”, which will be held from 5 to 9 June 2000, can take tangible and significant steps to enhance the effective participation of women in development; 3. Stresses that a favourable and conducive national and international environment in all fields of life is necessary for the effective integration of women in development; 4. Urges Governments to develop and to promote methodologies for mainstreaming a gender perspective in all aspects of policy-making, including economic policy-making; 4 A/54/227. /...