What happens when customs agencies evolve from border guardians to active promoters of social justice? A recent virtual regional forum hosted by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) in collaboration with the World Customs Organization's Global Trade Facilitation Program (WCO-GTFP), and chaired by the WCO Vice-Chair for the Americas and Caribbean region, presented this transformative vision.
Held from September 7-9, 2021, the forum brought together over 80 representatives from 24 nations across the Americas and Caribbean to explore how customs administrations can implement gender-responsive and inclusive measures.
Forum Overview: Addressing Challenges Through Collective Action
The forum's primary objective was advancing gender equality and diversity within customs administrations. Participants shared experiences, examined common professional and personal challenges, and developed concrete recommendations. This gathering established both a regional platform for knowledge exchange and renewed momentum for WCO's global gender equality agenda.
Distinguished Participation: Expertise and Insight
A key highlight was the participation of high-level speakers including SECO officials, customs agency leaders, WCO members actively engaged in gender equality initiatives, and international organization representatives. Their contributions provided attendees with unique access to specialized knowledge and practical approaches for implementing inclusive policies.
Working Groups: Practical Solutions Through Dialogue
The second day featured particularly impactful breakout sessions. Participants engaged in constructive discussions about work-life balance, gender-based violence prevention, anti-harassment measures, governance reform, leadership development, and stakeholder engagement strategies. These exchanges generated innovative perspectives for addressing systemic challenges in customs administrations.
Key Announcement: Spanish-Language GEOAT Launch
A significant outcome was the SECO-WCO-GTFP team's release of the Spanish version of the Gender Equality Organizational Assessment Tool (GEOAT). Translated with SECO funding, this instrument enables customs administrations to evaluate their gender equality performance and develop improvement plans. The GEOAT launch represents a milestone in WCO's equality initiatives and provides Spanish-speaking nations with enhanced implementation capacity.
Forward Momentum: Institutionalizing Equality in Customs Operations
Forum participants unanimously affirmed the need to prioritize gender equality and diversity within regional customs agendas. The event established a foundation for sustained progress, with attendees committing to apply insights within their respective administrations.
Critical Issue Analysis
Work-Life Integration: Discussions highlighted challenges in high-pressure customs environments, proposing solutions like flexible scheduling, childcare support, and mental health services to enhance both employee wellbeing and operational effectiveness.
Violence Prevention: Participants examined protocols for addressing gender-based violence and harassment, emphasizing robust reporting systems, comprehensive training programs, and victim support mechanisms.
Governance Reform: Strategic recommendations included increasing female leadership representation, ensuring transparent decision-making, and cultivating inclusive organizational cultures to improve talent retention and institutional performance.
Stakeholder Collaboration: The forum explored partnership models with businesses, government agencies, and international organizations to promote gender-sensitive practices through policy development and capacity-building initiatives.
The GEOAT Advantage
The newly launched assessment tool provides comprehensive metrics across customs operations, including human resources, policy formulation, and workplace environment. Its implementation offers multiple institutional benefits:
- Enhanced employee satisfaction and engagement through equitable treatment
- Improved talent acquisition and retention in competitive labor markets
- Increased organizational effectiveness through diverse perspectives
- Strengthened institutional reputation through demonstrated social commitment
This regional forum marked a significant advancement in redefining customs administrations as catalysts for social equity. Through knowledge sharing, policy innovation, and practical tool development, participants collectively advanced the vision of more inclusive border governance systems with far-reaching societal impacts.