27

APDC: WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT

This session was taken by Ms. Simyrin Gill, who replaced Ms. Noelene Hazzer who was called away unexpectedly on business.

Simyrin explained that APDC is the acronym for Asian and Pacific Development Centre. It formerly belonged to the United Nations, but now it is an intergovernmental organisation carrying out research. The women's programme is one part of the total programme. APDC also plans to establish an information resource centre of Women and Development in Asia and to publish a resource book on women's organisations in the Asia/Pacific region.

In answering questions, Simyrin clarified that the research was aimed at making an impact on the policy-makers through discussion and dialogue. APDC has no specific link with women at grassroot level but is concerned with training of women at the middle-class level.

With regards to the women's programme she stated that the research programmes for 1985-86 are in response to the impact of industrialisation on the labour force, especially women, and the role of women in the agricultural sector.