Paramount role of women

36. Women play a primary role in combating hunger and fostering development, but their role is not always adequately acknowledged and appreciated. It is important to emphasise the essential role that women play in the survival of whole populations, especially in Africa. Often it is the women who produce the bulk of food for their family. Particularly in the developing countries, they are responsible for providing their family members with a wholesome and balanced diet. However, women become the first victims of decisions taken without their knowledge, such as decisions to abandon particular food crops and local markets of which they are the main operators. Such treatment shows a failure to respect women and hampers development. Under these conditions, the transition to the market economy and the introduction of technologies can, despite the best intentions, make the drudgery of women even worse.

Malnutrition particularly affects women who are the first to suffer. This has further repercussions on their childbearing and affects the health and education prospects of their young children.

But the purpose of this effort, to highlight the role of women in the fight against hunger and malnutrition and in favour of development, must form part of a more ambitious framework. One designed to enhance the social status of women in the poor countries, by providing them with greater access to health care, vocational training and credit. This will enable women to make their full contribution in increasing production, fostering development, and in the economic and political evolution of their countries(⁵⁴).

Progress must, however, ensure that the roles of men and women are preserved, without driving a wedge between them and without feminising men or masculinising women(⁵⁵). As the status of women improves, as is hoped, sight should not be lost of the attention women must provide to newly-created and developing life. Some developing countries are setting a positive example by curbing excesses that now occur in the West with regard to altering the sensitivity of women, without shutting women up in their traditional role. In this sphere, the mistakes made in the past must not be repeated by playing down traditional structuresto boost western models, which are particularly unsuitable for local situations if adopted without adjustment.