During the regional NGO meetings, held simultaneously with the United Nations Secretarist meetings, women representatives were amply prepared to discuss the burning issues related to themes of the Decade. "Five regional meetings were convened by the NGO Planning Committee to ensure that women from all regions of the world had an opportunity to meet, identify obstacles from their particular geographical areas, which hindered progress in the areas of the themes of the decade, and identify some collective actions which could be taken over the next several years. The venue for these regional meetings were: Africa, (Arusha, Tanzania), Asia (Tokyo, Japan), Latin America and Caribbean (Havana, Cuba), Western Pacific and Baghdad. Additionally, a preparatory NGO Consultation meeting took place in Vienna, Austria.

Results

As women attempted to assess the progress made by women during the decade, part of the basis for these discussions was information secured from a questionnaire previously circulated to organizations and individuals. This information was tabulated and summarized. Added to these findings were the comments of the discussion groups articulated at the regional meetings. The areas identified as those in which progress had been made were: a greater awareness of women and their needs by governments and peoples, and more willingness by governments and peoples to listen to discussions on women's issues, as well as to treat these issues more seriously than in 1975 or 1980.

Evidence of progress was seen in the considerable networks which had grown up in the interim between Copenhagen and Nairobi. Women felt more empowered to make decisions and to carry out their plans.

Women felt more
empowered to make
decisions and to
carry out their plans.

However, considerable lists of constraints were also identified. And always, gains were qualified by "buts". Amongst the areas of doubtful progress were the following:

1. In employment women were still manipulated. Increased employment was mainly in unskilled areas. Women were still the "last hired and first fired".
2. Educational opportunities had increased in many places, but the benefits were offset by the fact that the education which was provided was not predicated on women's needs or available potential.
3. Many of the laws which were related to equality, although on the statute books, were not being implemented.
4. The growing poverty of the world has particularly affected women, offsetting many of the gains made. Its implication for the future was particularly mentioned by President Nyerere at the opening NGO regional meeting in Arusha, Tanzania (October 1984).

In Nairobi 1985 women of the world really came together. A total of 13,503 individuals were officially registered at the Forum, representing most nations who attended the official women's conference, from 150 countries of the world. Many of these registrants had organizational affiliations, but registered as individuals. Unlike government representatives who, of necessity, had to reflect the views of their governments, forum participants were free to speak from their own perspectives. They represented a wide cross-section of women ready to share opinions, ideas and learning.

The experience was a very rich one. The progress made by women in articulating their own views was evident. They seemed less programmed by others behind the scene as had appeared to be the case in Copenhagen and Mexico. There was more willingness to listen.

Areas of disagreement between divergent groups were minor in comparison to the overall atmosphere created. In fact, women talked to each other on many different levels.

The over 1,000 workshops were always full, and women found additional venues in which to continue talking when the scarce official space was unavailable.