Effort to promote greater participation of women in trade needed, panel says

This should include measures targeted at the needs of poor women, regarding both access to global markets and protection from negative impacts of globalisation, panellists said.

The recommendations came at an event held Tuesday in conjunction with the weeklong UNCTAD XII ministerial conference in Accra, Ghana. The event, Trade and Gender: Perspectives for Sustainable Growth and Poverty Alleviation, was introduced by UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi, and chaired by Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General Ransford Smith.

Summarising the presentations and discussion, Smith listed a series of recommendations, including the need to apply a gender lens when formulating, implementing and negotiating trade policy, strengthen trade support services for women and develop gender sensitive projects targeted at export promotion. Regulatory frameworks, trade policies and international negotiations should take into account the needs of women, and there should be greater involvement of women in determining these.

Panelists included Rachel Mayanja, UN Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women, who gave the Opening Statement; Shri Gopal Pillai, Permanent Secretary, Commerce Ministry, India; Anh-Nga Tran-Nguyen, Director, Services Infrastructure for Development and Trade Efficiency, UNCTAD; and Savior Mwambwa, National Coordinator of the Civil Society Trade Network, Zambia.

Article courtesy APO-SOURCE