World Trade Congress on Gender: "Gender Equality for Sustainable Trade and Recovery"

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.

The draft programme can be consulted here.

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.