Gender Mainstreaming in the Multilateral Trading System
A Handbook for Policy Makers and Other Stakeholders
Published on 1. January 2003
Book
Paperback/Softback
264 pages
978-0-85092-736-8 (ISBN)
Description
The social dimension of trade policy and trade liberalisation is now a common topic in many official trade fora. However, this discussion is proceeding with little or no attention to the different needs, constraints and interests of women. At the same time, it is increasingly recognised that simply paying attention to general targets and commitments to poverty eradication or sustainable development will not solve the problems of gender discrimination and the lack of economic and social advancement that still plague the lives of millions of women in developing countries. This handbook provides an integrated framework for a sustainable, pro-poor and gender-sensitive approach to trade policy-making. A major part of the silence around gender, trade and investment at the level of governance of the trading system would appear to be a lack of understanding of the conceptual, empirical and policy links between gender and trade.
Paradoxically, along with the view that trade policies are gender blind there is also an underlying popular viewpoint among some trade scholars and trade policy decision-makers that trade liberalisation has unambiguously benefited women in terms of widespread employment. Emerging evidence shows that trade liberalisation can have both positive and negative effects on women's economic and social status. This handbook is intended to serve as an information and training tool for policy-makers and inter governmental and civil society organisations interested in building and enhancing their knowledge of the important linkages between trade and investment policy and gender equality objectives and priorities. It also presents recommendations on the key issues as well as the identification of strategies that could be utilised by different stakeholders. Mariama Williams, Ph.D. is an international economics and gender consultant, the Research Adviser for the International Gender and Trade Network (ITGN), a Director of the Institute for Law and Economics (ILE-Jamaica) and a member of Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN).
Paradoxically, along with the view that trade policies are gender blind there is also an underlying popular viewpoint among some trade scholars and trade policy decision-makers that trade liberalisation has unambiguously benefited women in terms of widespread employment. Emerging evidence shows that trade liberalisation can have both positive and negative effects on women's economic and social status. This handbook is intended to serve as an information and training tool for policy-makers and inter governmental and civil society organisations interested in building and enhancing their knowledge of the important linkages between trade and investment policy and gender equality objectives and priorities. It also presents recommendations on the key issues as well as the identification of strategies that could be utilised by different stakeholders. Mariama Williams, Ph.D. is an international economics and gender consultant, the Research Adviser for the International Gender and Trade Network (ITGN), a Director of the Institute for Law and Economics (ILE-Jamaica) and a member of Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN).
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
tables, bibliography, glossary
Dimensions
Height: 250 mm
Width: 190 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-85092-736-8 (9780850927368)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Mariama Williams is an international economics consultant and an Adjunct Associate at the Centre of Concern, Washington, DC. She is also the Research Adviser for the International Gender and Trade Network (IGTN).
Content
Abbreviations Foreword Preface Executive Summary 1. Multilateral and Regional Trading Arrangements and Globalisation Introduction The Contemporary Multilateral Trading System (MTS) Bilateral and Regional Trading Arrangements The MTS and Globalisation The MTS, Economic Development and Social Outcomes Governance of the MTS 2. Gender and the Multilateral Trading System (MTS) Introduction The Gender Impact of Trade Policy A Gender Analysis Approach to Trade Liberalisation Trade Liberalisation and Women's Well-being Gender and Working Conditions Gender and Participation in the Governance of the MTS A Tentative Framework for a Sectoral Analysis of Gender and Trade 3. Agricultural Trade Liberalisation Introduction The Nature of Agricultural Trade Liberalisation Global Agricultural Trade and the Agreement on Agriculture (AOA) The AOA and Developing Countries Food Security Gender Issues in Agricultural Trade Liberalisation Gender Implications of the AOA Provisions Pointers for Further Discussion 4. Services Trade Liberalisation Introduction The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) Gender Issues in Trade in Services Liberalisation Health Care Education Tourism Pointers for Further Discussion 5. Investment Trade Liberalisation Introduction Investment in the Context of Economic Development and International Trade The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Investment Measures (TRIMs) Further Investment Liberalisation Gender issues in Investment Liberalisation Pointers for Further Discussion 6. Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) Trade Liberalisation Introduction Gender Issues in the Protection of IPRs Towards a Gender-sensitive Framework for IPRs Pointers for Further Discussion 7. Strategies and Recommendations for Integrating Gender into the MTS Introduction A Framework for Policy Analysis and Programme Design Strategy Sets, Key Questions and Action Areas Recommendations on the Substantive Content of Trade Policy Recommendations on Gender and Governance in the MTS The Role of Intergovernmental organisations Bibliography Glossary Appendices