Recognizing the importance of integrating the Five-Year Regional Plan of Action on Women in Health and Development into the Regional Plan of Action to implement the strategies to achieve the goal of health for all by the year 2000;

Acknowledging the progress which has been made in some countries but that information on women in health and development is still scarce and that many activities are in the planning stages;

Mindful of the need for each country to establish a mechanism to coordinate the implementation of activities and collect information on women in health and development at the inter-sectoral level;

Bearing in mind the urgent need to improve the situation of women in health and development;

Recognizing the value of fellowships as a tool for professional development, and the underrepresentation of women as recipients of the same;

Noting that some progress has been made by the Secretariat in institutional strengthening, training, and recruitment of women to professional posts within the Organization; and

Renewing its commitment to the implementation of the Five-Year Regional Plan of Action on Women in Health and Development,

1. To thank the Special Subcommittee of the Executive Committee on Women in Health and Development for its work in monitoring and reporting on the progress made, and for the cooperation of the PASB (Document CSP21/15)

2. To recommend that Member Governments:

a) Establish, in each country, a focal point for women in health and development to coordinate related intersectoral activities;

b) Establish mechanisms for the regular collection of information required to monitor and evaluate the progress made and to submit this information to the Secretariat as requested;

c) Incorporate the special health needs and requirements of women into ongoing activities without creating new programs focused solely on women, and to incorporate activities of the Five-Year Regional Plan of Action into national health and development strategies and plans;

d) Develop and implement national policies to provide for the health and well-being of working women and their dependents, especially for those women employed in unregulated sectors of the economy;

e) Enhance professional training opportunities for women, especially in sectors in which they are underrepresented, with particular reference to the PAHO fellowship program;

f) Ensure equal opportunities for women in recruitment and selection to professional and senior management positions;

g) Encourage and promote the interchange among countries of results of activities carried out in connection with the Five-Year Regional Plan of Action.

3. To request that the Director:

a) Encourage and support activities at regional, Area, and national levels for the implementation of the Five-Year Regional Plan of Action;

b) Intensify efforts to obtain and channel funds in support of activities related to women in health and development;

c) Review the mechanisms and human resources needed for the effective coordination and implementation of activities related to the Five-Year Plan of Action and strengthen these where indicated to ensure successful achievement of the goals;

d) Develop a simplified, uniform methodology for compiling national and regional information on progress made toward reaching the goals of the Five-Year Plan;

e) Support the continued coordination of activities with other organizations in the Inter-American and United Nations Systems, and other women's organizations;

f) Strengthen efforts for the recruitment and selection of women for senior professional and managerial posts and further develop the leadership potential and technical skills of women within the Organization;

g) Promote the greater use of fellowships by Member Governments for the development and training of women.

4. To request the Executive Committee to convene its Special Subcommittee on Women in Health and Development at least twice a year in the remaining years of the Plan of Action to monitor the program and review achievements.