Focusing on the multiple roles and situations of the world's women, this collection of articles examines the current status of women, throughout the world. In the first article, "It's Not as Simple as You Think" (John Richardson), women in Brazil and Costa Rica explain issues they face in the struggle to improve their economic and social status. In the second article, "If the Rains Don't Come" (Maggie Murray-Lee), the lives of two women in Chad illustrate the way many women there are reacting to the current African famine. Lindsey Hilsum then discusses the low priority society puts on the work of women in her editorial, "Women's Work Doesn't Count." In a fourth article, two women leaders from Burkina Faso and Peru provide testimony on their own experiences as community leaders and identify some of the tactics and qualities so important to good leadership. A fact sheet synthesizing data about the home, work, education, and health of women throughout the world, and a photo essay portraying the roles of women in various countries precedes "Give Us More Credit" (Sara Cameron and Manjula Giri), which describes the important role women in Nepal play in a program that provides credit to small farms. Remaining articles include "The Iron Rice Bowl Has Been Cracked" (Kim Lem); "Tradition Against the Law" (Sigrun Slapgard); "The Real Village Health Workers" (Wendy Wallace); "Where Mothers Make a Difference" (Diana Smith); "Laziness? Apathy? No...Anaemia" (Sue Kassirer); and an Executive Board update on UNICEF Women's programs. (LH)