The FAO Plan of Action for Women in Development (1996-2001) defines the role the Organization will play in stimulating and facilitating efforts to increase the involvement of rural women as contributors and beneficiaries of economic, social and political development. In order to address the root causes of persistent poverty and food insecurity among rural women and the families they support as well as the factors contributing to degradation of the environment, the Plan pursues three strategic objectives: * to promote gender-based equity in the access to, and control of, productive resources; * to enhance women's participation in decision and policy-making processes at all levels; * to promote actions to reduce rural women's workload and enhance their opportunities for remunerated employment and income.