Decree No. 18238-C setting forth Regulations on the National Centre for the Development of Women and the Family, 9 May 1988.

This Decree sets forth Regulations on the Costa Rica National Center for the Development of Women and the Family. It provides that the Center is organized around a Directive Board, an Executive Directorate, and a Technical Council. The Technical Council has five areas of competence: 1) investigation; 2) dissemination and information; 3) training and organization; 4) economics; and 5) administration. Further provisions of these Regulations set forth the specific functions of the various departments of the Center.

Resolution 64/85, 1985.

This Resolution provides that the Argentine social program on behalf of women and the family has the following objectives: to study the situation of women and the family in the legal, labor, educational, cultural, health and socioeconomic areas; to collect information and documentation regarding women and the family for use in the establishment of a data bank capable of serving as a basis for the formulation of programs and standards designed to achieve the full involvement of women in social planning; to prepare reports and support measures contributing to the elimination of existing discrimination against women in society; to promote the involvement of women in organized community activities aimed at improving the quality of life of the population; to promote the technical and occupational training of women in accordance with their psychosocial characteristics and the requirements of the labor market; to promote, in the communication media, a change in the image of women more in keeping with their actual role at the present time; to develop basic, nontraditional support services for women designed to bring about improvements in the conditions of family and occupational life and to eliminate instances of social discrimination against women; and to coordinate and monitor activities of promotion, prevention, or treatment on behalf of families in critical situations or vulnerability due to their socioeconomic circumstances.

Decree No. 18729-J of 25 October 1988.

This Decree authorizes the association "Credimujer" to be inscribed in the Register of Associations of Costa Rica. Among the objectives of the "Credimujer" are the integration of women into the social and economic development of Costa Rica, improvement of the social and economic position of women, support of businesses run by women and business activities carried out by women, creation of opportunities for women to obtain credit, promotion of women in managerial positions, just remuneration for women, and contributions to the growth of businesses of which women are the beneficiaries.

Women, population, and international development in Latin America: a 1984 assessment.

PIP: Greater attention is needed to the interconnections between women, development, and population. The neglect of the woman factor in the areas of development and population policy has impeded achievements in these fields. The exclusion of women from the policy process in Latin America and in developing countries generally is both a reflection and a consequence of narrowly defined policies extrapolated from developed countries. The push toward economic development without regard for the consequences for women resulted in the destruction of many of women's traditional opportunities to earn income and contribute to the support of their family. No alternative income generating schemes were promoted. Women's role in fertility control was conceptualized as a passive one. During the 1970s, however, there was a growing tendency to recognize women as individuals whose rights, demands, and preferences are essential to the success of family planning programs. Nonetheless, implementation of projects that reflect a user perspective or have an integrated nature has been inconsistent. Development programs tend to be characterized by active involvement of women's organizations, a neglect of women's potential on the part of private development agencies, a lack of resource commitment by governments, and some use of consultants for the preparation of documents or meetings. In terms of the population effort, women remain the focus of family planning activities but are given few opportunities to express their concerns about the safety and efficacy of contraception or the context of service delivery. Family planning programs will not succeed as long as they focus solely on women's reproductive concerns. Women's multiple concerns and potentials must be addressed.^ieng