Trade policies often have a strong redistributive effect, both across economic sectors and among individuals. They can create opportunities for women's empowerment, and can also create burdens as they disrupt markets in which women operate. This is why the gender perspective should be included in the design and implementation of trade policies.
As a United Nations entity, UNCTAD has both the responsibility and the expertise to play a key role in ensuring that gender concerns are incorporated in a meaningful way in macroeconomic policies, including trade policy.
Specifically, within its mandate, UNCTAD will:
The current focus of UNCTAD's work on gender equality and women's empowerment include the following priority areas:
- Supporting developing countries to integrate gender considerations in their trade policy formulation and implementation, and in the negotiation of trade and cooperation agreements.
- Supporting developing countries to setup an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs.
UNCTAD's work on gender mainstreaming goes beyond trade policies, as it strongly contributes to the inclusion of gender considerations in other sectors such as technology, innovation and entrepreneurship policies.
Work is conducted through:
- Analytical activities on specific trade, gender and development-related issues.
- Capacity development and technical cooperation.
- Intergovernmental dialogue
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