E/1999/27 E/CN.6/1999/10 national machineries may choose to engage in direct implementation of policies and specific projects. It was pointed out that their role in gender mainstreaming does not preclude the need for projects specific to women. 17. National machineries should adopt a participatory approach rather than playing a prescriptive role, and should decentralize their activities so as to ensure that the needs of their constituencies and the interests of the majority of women of all classes from all sectors, especially those living in poverty in both rural and urban areas, are addressed. 18. Since the Fourth World Conference on Women, policies and programmes specifically targeting institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women have been adopted and implemented in many countries. National legislation has been reviewed and modified in several countries to allow for the integration of gender mainstreaming into all policies and programmes and to ensure the elimination of gender discriminatory legislation. 19. Some representatives emphasized the need to bridge the gap between policy formulation and implementation. Governments should demonstrate a strong political commitment to strengthening national machineries through providing sustainable human and financial resources, access to information technology and other tools through their national budgets and training programmes. Adequate resources would enhance the sustainability and ensure the effectiveness of national machineries in carrying out their work. One representative suggested that a certain percentage of budgets from various governmental agencies could be allocated to national machineries. 20. There was general agreement that national machineries should adopt a transparent and inclusive approach in fostering their relationships with non-governmental organizations, and wherever possible such relationships should be institutionalized. It was noted that since nongovernmental organizations provide the necessary conduit to civil society, this would increase the linkage between civil society and government, which would in turn foster trust and accountability. However, national machineries must remain independent and autonomous, and should publish their annual reports as a means of providing accountability and ensuring their legitimacy. 21. Several speakers noted that national machineries should create and/or strengthen collaborative relationships with the private sector. This could include addressing such groups as trade unions, private enterprises and banks. National machineries should sensitize the private sector to gender equality through their advocacy role, in particular with regard to the labour market and the situation of women in this respect. 22. Many representatives agreed that national machineries should play an active role in facilitating cooperation between all agencies of government, non-governmental organizations, women’s groups and other actors in civil society. This would enhance the collaboration of all actors, diminish the possibility of duplication of work, and provide for better utilization, coordination and leverage of limited resources by national machineries. 23. Some representatives stated that national machineries should engage the mass media in awareness-raising campaigns leading to the re-examination of existing gender prejudices and stereotypes, and should engage in efforts to change the traditional portrayal of both women and men. 24. Representatives emphasized the need for Governments and national machineries to incorporate the views of civil society in their reporting on gender and women’s issues to international bodies. They also stressed the need to document and publish “good practices” papers and develop gender-sensitive data and qualitative performance indicators, disaggregated by sex, to ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and implementation of programmes. 54