CHAPTER TWENTY TWO ENHANCING THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARTICLE 121 The Role of Women in Socio-economic Development The Partner States recognise that women make a significant contribution towards the process of socio-economic transformation and sustainable growth and that it is impossible to implement effective programmes for the economic and social development of the Partner States without the full participation of women. To this end, the Partner States shall through appropriate legislative and other measures: (a) promote the empowerment and effective integration and participation of women at all levels of socio-economic development especially in decision-making; (b) abolish legislation and discourage customs that are discriminatory against women; (c) promote effective education awareness programmes aimed at changing negative attitudes towards women; (d) create or adopt technologies which will ensure the stability of employment and professional progress for women workers; and (e) take such other measures that shall eliminate prejudices against women and promote the equality of the female gender with that of the male gender in every respect. ARTICLE 122 The Role of Women in Business Having recognised the importance of women as a vital economic link between agriculture, industry and trade, the Partner States undertake to: (a) increase the participation of women in business at the policy formulation and implementation levels; 95