It is a strategy for making women’s as well as men's concerns and experiences an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres so that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated. The ultimate goal is to achieve gender equality.” ( United Nations General Assembly, 1997, ch. In addition, paragraph 203(b) recommends that national women’s machineries “have clearly defined mandates and authority; critical elements would be adequate resources and the ability and competence to influence policy and formulate and review legislation." Many of these institutions actually engage in a full range of research and operational activities, as is described in detail below.