The European Commission services are currently reflecting on the follow-up to the Strategy for equality between women and men 2010-2015 (COM (2010) 491 final). The current strategy barely integrates gender equality into trade policy, thus providing an opportunity for the INTA committee to consider whether and how gender issues should be dealt with in the context of the EU's trade policies. This paper begins with a short overview of the current understanding of the gender and trade policies nexus, describes how gender aspects are treated by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), then assesses how the Commission handles gender in regard to trade policy and concludes with some possible policy options.

The Global Gender and Economic Policy Management Initiative (GEPMI) is a comprehensive capacity development and policy advisory services programme that aims to accelerate achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by making economic policies and poverty reduction strategies deliver results equitably to women and men, girls and boys. This programme was designed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through regional partnerships, in order to respond to the urgent need to incorporate gender perspectives into national development frameworks.

This technical note is divided into three main parts. The first part compiles and presents the conclusions of the literature review on representative initiatives in the trade and gender area implemented in the region, which are the basis and guide for gender mainstreaming in INT operations, and identifies opportunities for future intervention by the Bank. The second part presents the process of gender mainstreaming in three types of trade interventions in INT. The last part outlines the knowledge and dissemination products, besides this technical note, that have been developed to supplement the knowledge and methodological needs identified: (1) a manual for mainstreaming gender in trade interventions; (2) a working paper on mainstreaming gender in the process of preparation, negotiation, and implementation of trade agreements; (3) analysis of specific trade agreements and proposed preparation of clauses with gender perspective; and (4) the Community of Practice on Trade and Gender.

This report analyzes Bangladesh’s major trade commitments and trade-related policies, laws, and institutions, on three levels: the content of these trade commitments and related laws, policies, and institutions; their possible interactions with Bangladesh’s other international commitments, national laws, and policies related to poverty reduction and gender equality, and with societal norms and practices that influence women’s status and opportunities; and law and policy changes or other measures that could expand the benefits of trade liberalization more widely or better mitigate the adjustment costs of trade liberalization for vulnerable groups, especially poor women.

The study reflects on the interrelation between gender equality and trade as a reciprocal relationship and on gender-differentiated impacts of trade. It identifies several relevant gender dimensions in trade and approaches how to address them, including practice examples. It further presents how gender in trade is and should be measured, including some gender-related indicators in trade. Chapter 4 presents key issues to be addressed to mitigate possible negative impacts of trade on gender equality and equity.