Women in Industry SeriesWOMEN,INDUSTRY ANDENVIRONMENTSample casesUNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONMessage from the Chairperson ofUNIDO’s Task Force onPreparations for theFourth World Conference on WomenThroughout the world, women make a vital contri-bution to industrial output. Over 200 million women areemployed across all industry sectors, with half of thisnumber in developing countries. Their work not only sus-tains their families, but also makes a major contribution tosocio-economic progress. Most women are employed inlow-skilled, poorly paid positions, where they are often ex-posed to health hazards. On the other hand, we are seeingthe advance of an increasing number of highly educatedwomen into senior decision-making positions. The creativityand talents of all women are an invaluable resource, whichcan and should be developed both for their own self-realization and for the benefit of society as a whole.The key to enhancing women’s opportunities, andhence their position in industry and the economy, is to pro-vide them with access to know-how, technologies andcredit. Training to upgrade women’s technological capabili-ties and to enhance their entrepreneurial and businessskills, whether in simple artisanal production or in high-technology industries, is at the heart of allowing women toadvance to more rewarding positions. All these activitiesare an integral par-t of UNIDO’s technical assistance pro-grammes. The case-studies presented in this series of bro-chures demonstrate that women can not only succeed insectors where traditionally they have had a strong pres-ence, but can also reach leading positions in sectors thatwere previously believed to be the exclusive domain ofmen. They also show that technological solutions can di-rectly benefit women by improving their living and workingconditions, particularly in sectors where they tend to beconcentrated.UNIDO is committed to sustainable industrial develop-ment as a means of achieving economic prosperity, ahealthy environment, and integration of all groups insociety. It is our firm belief that enabling the full contribu-tion of both men and women, in all sectors of industry, isindispensable for attaining this objective.(Mrs.) A. Tcheknavorian-AsenbauerWOMEN, INDUSTRY ANDENVIRONMENTEnvironmental issues play an important role for women indeveloping countries, since they arise both from poverty andfrom industrialization. Women in industry are usually concentra-ted in low-level positions, which tend to carry higher risks ofexposure to serious health hazards or unclean working environ-ments Where there are jobs involving highly toxic materials,such as using mercury amalgamation for gold recovery in themining sector, or spraying pesticides in agriculture, these areoften performed by women.Women entrepreneurs in small scale industries typically haveto make do with old, inefficient, polluting and unsafe machinery.Although cleaner technologies may exist, the women may nothave access to the credit to purchase them or the know-how onhow to use them effectively and safely.Rural women working in the agricultural industry are often themost exposed to the impacts of environmental degradation,whether in terms of agricultural losses, depletion of naturalresources, or natural disasters. However, because they aretypically responsible for agricultural activities, including harvest-ing and processing, women are well placed to be agents ofchange in introducing more sustainable approaches.Women can also make an important contribution to moresustainable paths of development in their roles as mothers andhousehold managers. Through their purchasing decisions, theyare responsible for the consumption patterns of the family, whileas mothers they can educate their children about the importanceof environmental protection.The challenges of supplying women with improved access tocleaner technologies are very similar to those of increasing theiraccess to technology in general (see the UNIDO brochureWomen, Industry and Technology). In particular, women needimproved access to credit to acquire cleaner technologies, andto training to operate the technologies in ways that optimizeperformance while minimizing pollution.UNIDO is addressing the issue of women, industry andenvironment in three ways: Awareness creation and information. UNIDO providesdatabanks to provide businesswomen in the manufacturingsector with information on cleaner production. UNIDO alsoconducts training programmes, workshops, and awarenessraising campaigns related to cleaner production methodsand new and renewable sources of energy. improving local environments. UNIDO projects to improvelocal environments have a strong community focus, toempower local women, and provide them with newtechniques and technologies, for example in wastemanagement or recycling.Cleaner production. UNIDO aims to disseminate cleaner andmore efficient technologies wherever possible, and also newand renewable sources of energy. A focus on womenproducers is an integral part of UNIDO’s work to establishcleaner production centres.Gold mining in Viet Nam: women drag/hers at Tan AnThe role of UNIDOUNIDO assists women in meeting the challenges of industrialrestructuring and technological change, and in participating on anequal basis both in industrial decision-making and in the benefitsof development. UNIDO promotes the advancement of womenthrough mainstreaming, recognizing women as full actors andequal partners in development activities and training programmes,There are also specific programmes and services to removeobstacles preventing the full participation of women in develop-ment These are initiated by UNIDO’s Integration of Women inIndustrial Development Unit, established in 1986. UNIDO’sapproaches are illustrated in the following case studies.Case 1: Fish Processing in Chile. Fish processing wascreating a big waste water pollution problem, affecting womenboth as mothers and employees. An initiative by three womenat the University of Concepción developed the solution withUNIDO.Case 2: Craft Producers in Nepal. A women’s craftassociation wanted to install an effluent treatment plant.UNIDO helped them develop an inexpensive and effectivesolution that has reduced pollution and helped their business.Case 3: Artisanal Gold Mining. Many women work indangerous conditions, especially in mercury amalgamation,which are also inefficient. UNIDO is working in Asia, Africaand Latin America to