Reshaping Trade through Women’s Economic Empowerment

Currently, women only contribute to about 37 percent of the global GDP, despite gender being about 50/50, and in some developing nations, female business ownership is as low as one to six percent. In response to the gender disparity in trade, CIGI delivered research and held a high-level round table in Geneva in support of implementing the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) Joint Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment. Stephen de Boer, Canada’s permanent representative to the WTO, described CIGI’s contributions as “an exciting development moving forward the discussion in support of the Declaration on Women’s Economic Empowerment.”

CIGI’s essay series Reshaping Trade through Women’s Economic Empowerment has given leaders and experts in trade, investment, development, human rights and women’s rights a voice to comment on the declaration and to guide others in implementing it. Contributors examine the declaration’s strengths and weaknesses and the opportunities and challenges to including women equally in domestic and international trade. Now nations, including Canada, are using trade negotiations to advance women’s economic empowerment.

To read the original report, click here.