Governmental and non-governmental participants alike had shared the view that the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcome document should serve as guidelines for the new national policy on gender equality, and that the latter should incorporate time-bound targets and realistic goals.

It was pointed out that these issues were also relevant to non-African LDCs. The participants shared the view that UNCTAD XII would constitute an opportunity to promote a new agenda for development cooperation for developing countries in general and Africa in particular.