E/2010/27 E/CN.6/2010/11 sensitive policies and laws, strong national mechanisms for gender equality and dedicated resources. The importance of such an environment has been demonstrated by the growing number of countries that have implemented stronger policy frameworks, national action plans, and better legislation to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women. Positive results have been achieved through changes in laws and customs that are discriminatory to women; the establishment of quotas and targets and introduction of other temporary special measures for women’s participation in decision-making; and the development of comprehensive strategies and awareness-raising campaigns to address violence against women. Strong and sustained political will has been instrumental in promoting participation of women in decision-making and accelerating the access of girls to education, and is essential in closing the gap between gender equality commitments and their effective implementation. The gender mainstreaming strategy remains pivotal for the full and effective implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Gender analysis is a key tool for developing better policies and programmatic responses to global and local development challenges. 5. United Nations support at the national level, in terms of lessons learned and good practices, could provide insights for enhancing the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action as a means of achieving the Millennium Development Goals. The example of Albania, which is one of eight pilot countries included in the United Nations “Delivering as One” programme, demonstrates how inclusive processes have significantly strengthened Government and civil society ownership in the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women, and how concrete results for women have been achieved. These results include the first-ever national strategy on gender equality and eradication of domestic violence (2007-2010), the introduction of a quota in the electoral code and a 50 per cent increase in the financial resources allocated to combat violence against women. 6. While important advances for women have been achieved globally, the recent economic and financial crisis and the challenge of climate change have had an adverse impact on progress and have also led to significant setbacks in achieving several of the Millennium Development Goals, including those related to poverty and hunger, health and decent work. These experiences should lead to a reorientation towards more people-centred policy frameworks that would strengthen the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action and accelerate the achievement of the Goals. Since the promotion of gender equality and women’s empowerment is a shared responsibility, greater efforts are needed to support developing countries in achieving the internationally agreed gender equality goals and commitments, including by means of financial and technical assistance. 7. Although many development and poverty reduction strategies continue to respond inadequately to the needs and concerns of women and girls, increasing efforts are being made to put in place gender-responsive national development policies. Development cooperation efforts should increasingly integrate gender equality perspectives. A range of critical interventions and actions is available and should be undertaken to address poverty among women and to support their economic empowerment, inter alia: making full employment and the 44 10-30576