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I understand it more in this sense ...take care of them since it's a global term that can mean treat them well and be sure that nothing bad would happen to them...

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Note added at 36 mins (2007-10-03 21:21:27 GMT)
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"wished for women to be taken care of/to be looked after"

as it was one of the last wishes formulated by him...

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Note added at 38 mins (2007-10-03 21:23:48 GMT)
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commended to look after women (take care of women)

the best option if you ask me...

Mercy to Women:
He used to commend people to sponsor them and treat them with excellence and he also used to announce the consequent virtues of that saying, “I and a patron of an orphanage are as close in Paradise (while waving with the index and middle finger and parting them .” He also said that the best house in Muslim houses is the one with an orphan being treated well in it. ” ( Bukhari and Ibn Majah)

Once many women relatives of Prophet Muhammad were sitting around him and talking loudly to him. When Omar came they all left, at which the Prophet laughed. Omar said, "O Allah's Messenger, may Allah keep you smiling. Why did you laugh?", The Prophet remarked that he was amazed at the behavior of those women, who, on hearing Omar's voice, had all hidden themselves from him. Omar, addressing them, said, "You fear me but do not fear Allah's Messenger." They all said, "You are a hot-tempered person in comparison to Allah's Messenger." (Muslim)

Once the Noble Prophet was sleeping with his face covered in the apartment of Aisha. It was the day of Eid (Muslims' holiday) and young girls were singing. Abu Bakr entered the house and asked the girls to stop. The Prophet said, "Let them sing, it is the day of Eid for them." ( Bukhari )

He said: The most perfect Muslim in the matter of faith is one who has excellent behavior; and the best among you are those who behave best towards their wives. (Tirmidhi)

He said, "Whoever [brings up] two girls till they come of age, will be in the next world along with me, like my two fingers joining each other." (Abu Dawud)

He said, "A believing man should not hate a believing woman; if he dislikes one of her characteristics, he will be pleased with another. (Muslim)

He said, " “I start the prayers, intending to lengthen them. I then hear a child crying so I make them shorter, knowing how emotional a child’s mother gets.” ( Bukhari and Muslim)

Caliph Umar (The second leader after prophet Muhammad) wanted to limit the amount of dowry. Most Muslims agreed with him. but an old poor woman declared her disagreement. Umar didn't mute her. Instead, he heard her opinion which was proofed and then he said, "The lady is right and Umar is wrong."

The word has several meanings including, advise, plead, recommend, instruct, recommend, suggest, willed (inheritence). In this context, however, one could suggest enjoin very easily, as it implies teaching, but since the Prophet is the source of the advise or recommendation, there is a strong degree of authoritative instruction.

In this case, one would say:

The Messenger enjoined on (behalf of) women/for (the sake of) women" with the additional words to the literal being implied meanings clearly understood from the teaching being delivered accordingly.
It is the strength and eloquence of the Arabic language that allows for much to be said in so few words. It is up to the translator to improvise to transfer the intended meaning.

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-10-03 22:01:26 GMT) Post-grading
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Please check out this link with a straightforword explanation and similar usage:
http://www.arabswata.org/forums/showthread.php?p=115859