1st Workshop on Trade and Gender

In line with Goal 5 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, to achieve gender equality, important advancements were recently made with the adoption of the Joint Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment by over 120 members and observers* of the World Trade Organization (WTO) during the Eleventh Ministerial of the WTO in Buenos Aires in December 2017. 

The Declaration is the result of a coordinated effort by the International Gender Champions Trade Impact Group, co-chaired by the Government of Iceland, the Government of Sierra Leone and the International Trade Centre.

The Declaration represents a commitment to share best practices and build the evidence base for more inclusive trade. Over the next two years to support the implementation of the Declaration, a series of six seminars will be held on topics including:

•    Gender-Based Analysis of Trade Policy, 16 March 2018
•    Enhancing Women Entrepreneurs Participation in Public Procurement, June 2018
•    Connecting Women Entrepreneurs to International Value Chains, September 2018
•    Promoting Financial Inclusion for Women, November 2018
•    Women and Trade in Trade Agreements, March 2019
•    Women in Digital Trade, July 2019

These exchanges of best practices will result in a guide to help policy-makers, trade and investment institutions, and businesses make trade more gender-responsive. We invite the trade and development community to join in the discussion towards more inclusive trade.
 
To this end, the Permanent Mission of Canada to the World Trade Organization in Geneva is pleased to organize, in collaboration with key partners, a workshop on trade and gender based analysis on Friday, March 16th in Room W at the WTO. This is the first of a series of workshops of the International Gender Champions Impact Group on Trade towards the next Ministerial Conference.

Full programme 

(download here) 

08:45-09:00 Welcome Coffee

09:00-09:30 Opening Remarks

Moderator: Stephen de Boer, Permanent Representative of Canada to the World Trade Organization

Speakers:

1. Roberto Azevêdo (video), Director General of the World Trade Organization and International Gender Champion
2. Arancha González, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre and International Gender Champion

09:30-11:30 Panel 1: What we know about trade and gender

Moderator: Vanessa Erogbogbo, Head, Women and Trade Programme, International Trade Centre

Speakers:

1. Simonetta Zarrilli, Chief, Trade, Gender and Development Programme Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities UNCTAD
2. Annette Ssemuwemba, Deputy Executive Director Enhanced Integrated Framework
3. Amelie Kvarnström, National Board of Trade Sweden
4. Sheba Tejani, Assistant Professor of International Affairs New School

11:30-13:00 Panel 2: Gender-Based Analysis and Trade

Moderator: Deborah Vorhies, Managing Director, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development

Speakers:

1. Marie-France Paquet, Chief Economist, Global Affairs Canada
2. Nuno Sousa, Economist, Chief Economist and Trade Analysis Unit, DG Trade European Commission
   With – Liva Andersone, Gender focal point, Unit of Trade and Sustainable Development, Generalised System of Preferences, DG Trade, European Commission
3. David Luke, Coordinator, African Trade Policy Centre, UN Economic Commission for Africa

15:00-16:30 Panel 3: Areas for Future Work/Data Collection

Moderator: David Usher, Director General, Trade Negotiations Global Affairs Canada

Speakers:

1. Roberta Piermartini, Chief of Section, Economic Research and Statistics Division, WTO
2. Julia Nielson, Head, Development Division, OECD
3. Nicole Verdugo, Head, Gender Department, Direcon, Chile
4. Kilara Suit, Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment Global Practice, World Bank Group

16:30-18:00 Panel 4: Wrap up and next steps

Moderator: Stephen de Boer, Permanent Representative of Canada to the World Trade Organization

Speakers:

1. Marc Vanheukelen, Permanent Representative of the European Union to the World Trade Organization and International Gender Champion
2. Ambassador Dr. Syed Tauqir Shah, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the WTO and International Gender Champion
3. Ambassador Yvette Stevens, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the WTO and International Gender Champion
4. Isabelle Durant, Deputy Secretary General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

18:15 Reception - Atrium Centre William Rappard

Let's continue our collective work on this important issue and walk the walk!