than 37 per cent of the deputies were women and women also accounted for 54.5 per cent of specialists with advanced university diplomas who held public office. Moreover, on the occasion of the Thirtieth Congress of the Communist Party, additional meas­ ures had been adopted to contribute to the well-being of women and of society in general. 71. In pursuit of the goals of the United Nations Decade for Women, it had once again been the experience that there was a close link between the status of women and the world situation. The strengthening of international peace and security, the steps taken to avoid nuclear war and the establish­ ment of a new international economic order, among other factors, could do much to improve the status of women. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women had therefore done well to adopt a resolution on the International Year of Peace (ibid., annex I). 72. The developing countries which had gained their independence after an arduous struggle had made certain advances where the status of women and their participation in society were concerned. However, their economic and social progress was still being held back by many internal and external problems, such as the structures of colonial and neo­ colonial exploitation, apartheid, racism and imperial­ ist aggression. 73. Moreover, the status of women had deterio­ rated in many capitalist countries because of the economic crisis, inflation, discrimination, the reduc­ tion of social benefits and the absence of legislation on the question. The only explanation for the failure of those countries to ratify the Convention was that they wanted to perpetuate the current situation in which women were not equal. 74. His delegation endorsed the General Assem­ bly's call to all Member States, without exception, to accede to the Convention. He emphasized, in partic­
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the status of women in different countries, highlighting the importance of international cooperation and the need for countries to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. The text also touches on the impact of economic and social factors on women's status, such as colonialism, apartheid, and economic crises. These themes suggest that the text is more focused on social and human rights issues rather than economic development or specific sectors like industry or agriculture.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, Education