ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on two global trends - economically, the shift to competitive unregulated markets, and politically, the changing nature of nation-states. It examines their impact on the feminization of poverty and gender equity. The chapter shows why and how women can be a global force for change. In the context of competitive unregulated markets, women are particularly affected by the fierce competition over scarce resources - in particular, land and the means of livelihood. Women have a particular interest in regulating markets. Women are a global force in the shaping of international development debates and in providing directions for sustainable human development. The International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo held in 1994 was a watershed for its visible demonstration that women must be central to any population policy and development goal. Women's empowerment, health and reproductive rights are recognized as the cornerstone of effective population policies.
