236. The Director-General stressed that the advancement of women was a remarkably successful example of social policy making in its broadest sense of human development. She emphasized the interrelationship of economic, political6 social and cultural issues in planning for the advancement of women. She drew particul~r attention to the importance of the 1988 session of the Commission as the first substantive session since the adoption of a long-term programme of work, the streamlining of the agenda and the decision to hold sessions annually until the year 2000. It also was the first to discuss priority themes and the first to review the implementation of programme recommendations to organizations of the United Nations system. She noted that the session was taking place almost exactly at the half-way point between International Women's Year and the year 2000, when the objectives set in Mexico City should have been reached. She stressed that the Commission's work had to begin a new phase in the implementation of the Strategies: a construction stage. In the same metaphor, she emphasized the need to turn the architectural vision of the Strategies into a real building; the 1988 session should focus on the tools and management of the construction enterprise, the review and appraisal of the whole building and specific construction work on the priority themes. In conclusion, she stressed the need for firm implementation guidelines on the priority themes and cited the .advancement of women as proof that social change was possible. -100-237. At the 1st meeting of the Commission, the representative of the Philippines read a message from the President of the Philippines, Her Excellency Mrs. Corazon c. Aguino, to the delegates, participants and observers at the thirty-second session of the Commission. B. Attendance 238. The session was attended by representatives of 31 States members of the 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the advancement of women and the implementation of strategies for their empowerment, which suggests a focus on social and human development. The mention of "priority themes" and "programme recommendations" also implies a focus on policy-making and development.

**Category**
Education, Employment, Humanitarian aid and relief, Culture