female economic activities were critically examined and new light was shed on existing conceptions of traditional housework oxford university press an edited version of ihe chapter is available al wwwrcirutgerseducwglglobalcenlercharlotteunhandbookpdf targets were also set for the improvement of womens access to economic social and cultural rights including improvements in health reproductive services and sanitation the women in development approach is embodied in article of the convention which focuses on rural women and calls on states to ensure that women participate in and benefit from rural development and also that they participate in the elaboration and implementation of development planning at all levels participation is an important component of the right to development as discussed below