157. The Commission considered item 5 of its agenda at its 7th to 12th, 13th and 15th meetings on 17, 18 and 21 to 23 March 1988. It had before it the following documents: (a) Report of the Secretary-General on national machinery for monitoring and improving the status of women (E/CN.6/1988/3); (b) Report of the Secretary-General on problems of rural women, including food, water resources, agricultural technology, rural employment, transportation, environme~t, energy and health (E/CN.6/1988/4); (c) Report of the Secretary-General on access to information and education for peace (E/CN.6/1988/5); (d) Report of the Secretary-General on efforts to eradicate violence against women within the family and society (E/CN.6/1988/6)0 158. Some representatives reiterated the significant interrelationship, interdependence and mutually supportive nature of the objectives of equality, development and peace. The role of national machinery in promoting an environment and infrastructure. conducive to the attaimnent of equality in all spheres of life was considered essential. One representative pointed out that development progranunes bore the greatest relevance to the largest number of women and that the Commission on the Status of Women should serve as a valuable source of ideas and a forum for the exchange of information on the developmental needs of women and for proposals to satisfy those needs. Other representatives emphasized that peace was the pre-condition without which true equality and meaningful development were impossible; in a climate of fear and tension, social development became the first victim. One representative could not agree with this opinion, since it would deny the value of the very real advancement for women that had been achieved in a time when the world was certainly not at peace. 159. Many representatives referred to the significant contribution made by expert group meetings and seminars to work on the priority themes, which were subsequently considered by the Commission. One representative stressed that every effort should 
**Analysis**
The text discusses various reports and themes related to the status of women, including national machinery, access to information and education, and efforts to eradicate violence against women. The representatives' statements highlight the interconnectedness of equality, development, and peace, with some emphasizing the importance of development programs and others pointing out that peace is a pre-condition for true equality and meaningful development. The text does not specifically focus on economic development, natural resources, or industry, but rather on the social and human aspects of women's lives.

**Category**
Education, Employment, Health