Imagine a customs organization where employees thrive, where talents from diverse backgrounds and genders fully realize their potential while contributing to global trade prosperity. This vision is becoming reality through the World Customs Organization's (WCO) Gender Equality and Diversity (GED) Virtual Working Group (VWG), which recently held its biennial meeting to showcase significant progress.
Core Focus: Updates on WCO's Gender Equality Strategy
On November 8-9, 2023, representatives from WCO member states convened virtually for the GED VWG meeting to review advancements in promoting gender equality and diversity across customs administrations worldwide. Key discussion points included:
- Review of GED Network Meeting Outcomes: Insights from the September 13 Gender Equality and Diversity Network meeting provided actionable recommendations for future initiatives.
- Enhanced Gender Equality Organizational Assessment Tool (GEOAT): The upgraded self-assessment instrument, launching mid-December in English and French, features streamlined templates and clearer metrics to help customs administrations identify strengths and improvement areas.
- Development of Expert Database: WCO is establishing a roster of certified gender equality and diversity specialists to provide technical guidance for implementing effective GED strategies.
Case Studies: Global Best Practices
Two customs administrations presented successful models:
- Ethiopian Customs: Prioritizes women's career advancement through professional development programs and childcare support to facilitate work-life balance.
- Belgian Customs: Implements innovative awareness campaigns including corporate theater performances about diversity issues and hosts a federal diversity and inclusion awards program.
Regional Collaboration for Strategic Implementation
GED regional coordinators from West/Central Africa and East/Southern Africa reported on localized strategy execution, demonstrating how tailored approaches address regional contexts while aligning with global objectives.
Growing Global Participation
The meeting attracted 71 participants from 37 nations across six continents, plus representatives from three regional capacity-building offices. This expanding engagement reflects members' increasing commitment to GED principles.
The GEOAT Tool: Measuring Progress
The enhanced assessment framework enables customs administrations to benchmark performance, identify gaps, and develop targeted improvement plans while facilitating cross-border knowledge sharing about effective equality practices.
Expert Support System
The forthcoming specialist database will provide members with technical assistance for:
- Customized GED strategy development
- Policy formulation
- Workforce training programs
- Performance monitoring and evaluation
Regional Coordination Mechanisms
Appointed regional coordinators serve critical functions by:
- Aligning local activities with WCO's global strategy
- Facilitating inter-administration knowledge exchange
- Reporting regional progress to WCO leadership
Beyond Numbers: The Value Proposition
True gender equality and diversity transcend statistical balance, representing fundamental organizational values that respect individual uniqueness while unlocking collective potential. Customs administrations embracing these principles benefit from enhanced talent retention, increased innovation capacity, and improved service delivery.
Building Inclusive Cultures
Establishing genuinely inclusive environments requires converting awareness into concrete actions through policies ensuring all personnel feel valued and respected.
Advancing Women's Leadership
The customs sector must dismantle barriers limiting women's advancement to decision-making roles, recognizing that gender-balanced leadership strengthens organizational resilience.
Diversity in Recruitment
Proactive hiring strategies that consider varied backgrounds produce more representative teams better equipped to navigate global trade complexities.
Continuous Improvement Process
Sustaining progress demands regular strategy evaluations and adjustments to address evolving challenges in achieving equality objectives.