WTO Opens Registration for the World Trade Congress (5-7 Dec) on Gender

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Under the theme “Gender Equality for Sustainable Trade and Recovery”, the World Trade Congress on Gender will take place at the WTO from 5 to 7 December to explore how gender equality can foster sustainable trade and how trade can support women in times of crisis. The objective of the Congress is to highlight research work conducted by trade and gender experts, showcase new research initiatives and promote innovative thinking on trade and gender.

The Congress is the first international research conference to be held on trade and gender. It is jointly organised by the WTO Gender Research Hub and the WTO Trade and Gender Unit.

The Congress intends to promote research on trade and gender by bringing together the most prominent researchers in this field and highlighting the latest findings. Trade and gender experts from around the world will share their perspectives on gender-related trade issues, promote the benefits of gender mainstreaming in research and bring together researchers and policy makers to encourage gender-responsive trade policies.

Over 20 research papers on trade and gender will be presented at the Congress, exploring themes such as gender provisions in regional trade agreements, women entrepreneurs, gender-responsive policy making, and the impact of COVID-19. The Congress will also feature two plenary sessions looking at gender-based violence, women's economic empowerment and the role of trade, and how global crises impact women the most. The programme also includes a book launch and a "speed-meeting" session between researchers and policy makers to encourage partnerships.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will open the Congress, which begins with high-level panels bringing together representatives from government, the private sector and international organizations.

Registration

Participation in the event can be in person, online or hybrid.

All participants must complete an online application form. Participants have until 18 November 2022 (midnight) to register. No onsite registrations will be accepted.

The organisers strongly recommend in-person attendance as the programme will include major networking events and displays of governmental and international programmes in support of women and research.

More information on the WTO Gender Research Hub

The WTO Gender Research Hub was launched on 31 May 2021 as part of the WTO's 2021-2026 Action Plan on Trade and Gender, with the aim of deepening understanding of the trade and gender nexus and fostering research and data collection.

The Hub serves as an information-sharing and knowledge-gathering platform where the latest findings of researchers and experts can be shared and disseminated globally. It also aims to foster research partnerships, gather together published research for easier access to experts' findings, bring visibility to work on trade and gender and promote this field as an important area of research and expertise.