progress in its work and for the first time had drawn general conclusions from its scrutiny of the reports before it. First of all, the Committee had adopted a suggestion concerning the establishment of public machinery or institutions by States parties to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women14 to ensure the effec­ tive elimination of discrimination against women. Australia, which already had such machinery, en­ dorsed that proposal. Nevertheless, the existence of a specific body for that purpose did not mean that women's issues should be seen as separate and compartmentalized, since only through proper par-9th meeting-2 May 1986 49 ticipation in the decision-making processes at all certain economic and social rights had to be fulfilled levels could women achieve full equality. before the implementation of civil and political 89. The Committee had also concerned itself with rights could be envisaged was therefore unacceptable. unemployment and the situation of women in rural Lack of social and economic development could not areas, and had identified some priority areas which j';lstify the suppression of basic civil and political States parties must take into account in preparing nghts. their reports. Australia hoped that the Committee 95. Since the adoption of the Covenants 20 years would continue to define its requirements clearly in previously, only about half of the States Members of ~rder to help reporting countries to focus on key the United Nations had acceded to them and only Issues. one third had acceded to the Optional Protocol to the 90. The United Nations was currently actively International Covenant on Civil and Political studying how to streamline the consideration of Rights.'7 The delegations of the Nordic countries reports in the bodies which monitored the implemen- ~oped th~t the number of ratifications might be 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the United Nations' efforts to promote gender equality and eliminate discrimination against women, with a focus on the role of states and international institutions in achieving this goal. The text touches on issues related to economic and social development, unemployment, and human rights, which suggests that the category should be related to social and economic development.

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