strengthen and ensure the viability of national machinery, to research and training to adjust national machinery to the new roles of women in specific areas such as shelter. 168. The observer for the European Economic Community described the EEC machinery, which underlined the Community's commitment to the implementation of the -86-Forward-looking Strategies and placed particular emphasis on the monitoring and information functions. The observer for the Council of Europe described its national machinery and stressed its information activities in~luding specific information campaigns. 169. The observer for the Palestine Liberation Organization explained that its national machinery was composed of many volunteer women's organizations which played an effective role in helping women, even beyond their traditional roles. By maintaining close co-operation, those organizations focused their efforts on concrete activities in such areas as health, food supply and illiteracy, and monitored the situation and its changes. B. Development: problems of rural women, including food, water resources, agricultural technology, rural employment, transportation and environment 170. In introducing that priority theme, the Director of the Branch for the Advancement of Women said that the United Nations Decade for Women had drawn attention to the importance of the economic role of rural women. Their economic role, in addition to their traditional roles, placed rural women at the cutting edge of development. Rural development implied the development of rural women and their capabilities. The Director noted that following discussions among representatives of the organizations of the United Nations system, it had been decided to add two subjects to the report of the Secretary-General: energy and health, because of their cl~se interrelationship with other aspects of concern to rural women. She said that the report was a product of system-wide co-operation, especially on the part of UNIFEM, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 
**Analysis**
The text appears to focus on the development of women's roles in society, particularly in rural areas, and the importance of addressing their needs in areas such as food, water resources, agricultural technology, rural employment, transportation, and environment. It also highlights the need for national machinery to ensure the viability of women's organizations and the importance of information campaigns.

**Category**
Economic development, Education, Employment, Health, Agriculture, forestry and fishing, Natural resources and environment