UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AASSESSMENT OF THE IIMPACT OF TTRADE PPOLICY RREFORM IN CCOUNTRIES AACCEDING TO THE WWORLD TTRADE OORGANIZATION:: TTHE GGENDER DDIMENSION A STUDY PREPARED UNDER THE UNCTAD TRUST FUND FOR WTO ACCESSIONS, PHASE 3 United Nations New York and Geneva, 2010 ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF TRADE POLICY REFORM IN COUNTIRES ACCEDING TO THE WTO: THE GENDER DIMENSION NNNOOOTTTEEE • The symbols of United Nations documents are composed of capital letters combined with figures. Mention of such a symbol indicates a reference to a United Nations document. • The views expressed in this volume are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the UNCTAD secretariat or its member States. The designations employed and the presentation of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations Secretariat concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or regarding its economic system or degree of development. • Material in this publication may be freely quoted or reprinted, but acknowledgement is requested, together with a reference to the document number. A copy of the publication containing the quotation or reprint should be sent to the UNCTAD secretariat at: Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. Series Editor: Ms. Mina Mashayekhi Head, Trade Negotiations and Commercial Diplomacy Branch Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Palais des Nations CH-1211 Geneva 10 UNCTAD/DITC/TNCD/2010/6 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION ISSN 1816-2878 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AAACCCKKKNNNOOOWWWLLLEEEDDDGGGEEEMMMEEENNNTTTSSS This study was undertaken under the framework of the UNCTAD Trust Fund for WTO Accessions, Phase 3. The subject “Assessment of the Impact of Trade Policy Reform in Countries Acceding to the World Trade Organization: The Gender Dimension”, was delivered by UNCTAD given that achieving gender equality is one of the Millennium Development Goals and there is the urgent need for countries acceding to the World Trade Organization to mainstream gender dimension when undertaking trade policy reform and formulating their national development agenda even during the process of becoming a member of the organization. The study was prepared by Pr. Dr. Krista Nadakavukaren Schefer J.D, of the University of Bern, under the supervision of Mina Mashayekhi, Head of the Trade Negotiations and Commercial Diplomacy Branch (TNCDB). Thomas Mathew provided guidance to the consultant and reviewed the study. Mr. Taisuke Ito provided valuable comments. This publication benefited from the contributions of Ms Choitsho Dorji. Ms Sophie Munda was responsible for formatting. UNCTAD is thankful to the governments of the countries in this Study for their assistance in reviewing the chapters concerned. This report does not intend to prejudge the conformity of the acceding governments’ trade policy measures with the laws of the World Trade Organization. Any opinions expressed in this report are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the UNCTAD secretariat. iii ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF TRADE POLICY REFORM IN COUNTIRES ACCEDING TO THE WTO: THE GENDER DIMENSION iv CONTENTS CCCOOONNNTTTEEENNNTTTSSS NOTE .........................................................................................................................................ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................iii CONTENTS............................................................................................................................... v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................... 3 This study ............................................................................................................................... 3 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 4 I. IMPACT OF TRADE LIBERALIZATION ON WOMEN................................................... 5 Positive changes for women due to liberalization.................................................................. 5 Negative changes to women due to liberalization.................................................................. 6 II. ANALYSIS OF TRADE POLICIES AND REFORM ADJUSTMENTS FOR ACCESSION TO WTO ........................................................................................................... 11 Place of women in society and in the workforce ................................................................. 12 Impact of accession on policies with a gender dimension ................................................... 12 Safety-net programmes for women...................................................................................... 13 Country studies..................................................................................................................... 14 III. AZERBAIJAN ................................................................................................................... 15 Analysis of trade policies and reform adjustments for accession to WTO .......................... 15 Place of women in society and in the workforce ................................................................. 16 Impact of accession on policies with a gender dimension ................................................... 17 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 18 IV. BHUTAN........................................................................................................................... 19 Analysis of trade policies and reform adjustments for accession to WTO .......................... 19 Place of women in society and in the workforce ................................................................. 21 Impact of accession on policies with a gender dimension ................................................... 22 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 23 V. CAMBODIA ....................................................................................................................... 25 Analysis of trade policies and reform adjustments for accession to WTO .......................... 25 Place of women in society and in the workforce ................................................................. 26 Impact of accession on policies with a gender dimension ................................................... 27 Safety-net programmes for women...................................................................................... 27 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 28 VI. CAPE VERDE ................................................................................................................... 29 Analysis of trade policies and reform adjustments for accession to WTO .......................... 29 v ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF TRADE POLICY REFORM IN COUNTIRES ACCEDING TO THE WTO: THE GENDER DIMENSION Place of women in society and in the workforce ................................................................. 31 Impact of accession on policies with a gender dimension ................................................... 31 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 32 VII. ETHIOPIA........................................................................................................................ 33 Analysis of trade policies and reform adjustments for accession to WTO .......................... 33 Place of women in society and in the workforce ................................................................. 33 Impact of accession on policies with a gender dimension ................................................... 34 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 35 VIII. IRAQ ............................................................................................................................... 37 Analysis of trade policies and reform adjustments for accession to WTO .......................... 37 Place of women in society and in the workforce ................................................................. 37 Impact of accession on policies with a gender dimension ................................................... 38 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 38 IX. KAZAKHSTAN ................................................................................................................ 39 Analysis of trade policies and reform adjustments for accession to WTO .......................... 39 Place of women in society and in the workforce ................................................................. 40 Impact of accession on policies with a gender dimension ..................................................