The world community has identified violence against women in its various forms as a clear violation of women's rights. Strong actions have been put in place, at the international, regional and national levels, to confront what should always have been considered unconscionable. Yet much remains to be done. As we stand on the threshold of the new millenium, we are confronted by challenges both new and old. At the forefront is the impact on women of globalization, liberalization, economic restructuring and privatization.
Women are over-represented among the unemployed and underemployed.
If employed, they are more likely than men to be found in poorly paid, part-time employment or temporary and insecure jobs. Women continue to pay with their lives for inadequate provision of health care. Preventable diseases and unequal access to health care still affect women and girls, especially those in the rural sector. To our shame, maternal and infant mortality remain high in several countries, both as a result of inadequate antenatal and maternity care, and of limitations in family planning programmes. Let us recommit ourselves to its full implementation.