The network 'Women in Development Europe' - WIDE - works to influence European and International policies and to raise awareness on gender and development issues among important sectors of opinion in Europe, with the objective of empowering women worldwide.
WIDE was set up in 1985 as a European network of women active in Non Governmental Development Organisations (NGDO's) and research institutes, in response to the 1985 UN World Conference on Women in Nairobi, to enhance the objectives of the 'Forward Looking Strategies' (FLS).
FLS called for wide-reaching changes in the policies and development programmes of governments, multilateral institutions and NGDO's in the North and in the South.
The Decade resulted in increased awareness of women's importance in development. Unfortunately this awareness has led so far to few positive changes in the situation of women worldwide.
Initially WIDE focused only on the consequences of development policies on women in the South but gradually it broadened its vision towards a global, North-South analysis of development issues.
WIDE promotes a process of joint reflection and interaction between Northern and Southern women, and aims for joint action on international and regional levels, without denying the diversity among women based on their economic and political environments, class, race, age and religion.
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