On 15 October 2025, the World Customs Organization (WCO) announced that it had held the 5th Conference of the Network for Gender Equality and Diversity (GED) in Customs on 06 October 2025.
In his opening address, the WCO Secretary General (SG) said, “The WCO has dedicated 2025 to Customs delivering on its commitment to efficiency, security and prosperity […] and pursuing GED and inclusiveness is one of the avenues administrations must travel in order to deliver.”
Promoting GED within Customs is not just a question of fundamental rights. Creating a diverse and inclusive working environment is a key element of staff performance. Therefore, the WCO believes its members must consider addressing GED issues as stipulated in the 2020 Declaration on GED in Customs.
Efforts already taken at the WCO to advance GED in Customs include the development of the Gender Equality Organisational Assessment Tool (GEOAT) and the Blended Training Package on Advancing GED in Customs. In 2022, in response to increasing demand from WCO members for support in the area of GED. The Secretariat initiated the development of a pool of “recognised experts” to assist fellow administrations in this area.
To facilitate the sharing of experiences related to the promotion of GED - one of the measures outlined in the Declaration - the WCO has established a Network for GED. Since 2021, it has organised an annual conference that brings together Customs administrations and their partners.
This year’s event gathered more than 300 participants with discussions centred around two main topics, namely inclusion as applied to disability and partnerships related to GED.
Trade is a game-changer for women
Before starting these discussions, the WCO invited the head of Trade and Gender at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to deliver a welcome speech during which she explained why and how policies should support the participation of women in international trade. The head highlighted that, while “trade is a master class in empowerment”, exposing entrepreneurs to international standards, quality expectations, innovative practices and building vital skills in negotiation, marketing, and management, women entrepreneurs often face distinct and higher barriers than men to benefiting from international trade. It is therefore crucial to shape policies and markets with gender equality in mind.
Disability and improving inclusion
The panel on inclusion as applied to disability was moderated by a representative from the State Customs Service of Ukraine, and brought together speakers from the General Directorate of Customs of the Dominican Republic (DCA), the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). They emphasised efforts in hiring and accommodating staff with disabilities, training staff for interacting with colleagues and citizens with disabilities, as well as adapting workplaces in terms of accessibility and culture.
Among the practices discussed was the DCA internship programme, which provides opportunities for young people with physical disabilities (such as those who are hard of hearing or visually impaired) or various neurodivergent conditions to gain initial work experience and integrate into Customs. Participants heard the testimony of one of the 167 trainees who became a permanent employee. “At first, it may seem like a small project. But I think it is wise to say that major changes can only be achieved when a series of small events trigger them”, the trainee said.
A “disability champion” from SARS, whose role is advocating for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities, also shared her experience. “Some disabilities are not visible. It’s up to us as people with disabilities to educate and raise awareness. Our slogan is ‘nothing about us without us”, the champion declared. The work of the disability champions has led to a better understanding of the challenges faced, improved building accessibility, and the purchase of assistive devices.
The speaker from UNCTAD emphasised the importance of governments designing trade policies that increase access to assistive devices, particularly in low-income countries. Here, it is estimated that only about one in 10 people have access to the assistive devices they need, compared to about 9 in 10 in developed high-income countries. “Many developing countries have tariffs and non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that make these devices expensive or very difficult to import.”
Importance of partnerships
The panel on partnerships brought together speakers from Chile Customs, the Chilean business sector, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The WCO strongly advocates for increased collaboration on GED with other government agencies and national or international stakeholders, as this can help Customs enhance its efforts in promoting GED.
Among the initiatives presented was Chile’s representative, who stated that the “Aduana conecta” programme (Customs Connects) supports women entrepreneurs in importing and exporting, and is led by the Customs administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Women and Gender Equity. A businesswoman explained how she successfully managed her first import and export operations thanks to the courses and guidance provided under the project. “I went with my mentor to the Customs office to clarify some points. This motivated me, and when the opportunity arose to make an export to Maui in Hawaii, I took it.”
A unique journey promoting GED
An officer from the NCS, who travelled by motorbike from Lagos, Nigeria, to Brussels, Belgium, to deepen her understanding of border administration, shared her experience at border crossing points. She emphasised the need for border agencies to enhance cooperation, reduce waiting times in often remote and insecure areas – particularly for women – and develop gender-responsive and inclusive infrastructure. “Commitments to GED cannot be limited to internal human resources policies; it must also extend to the trading community,” she said.
From assessment to certification
Finally, representatives from the UNDP presented their work on “Equanomics”, which involves accompanying ministries of finance to assess and understand the gender impact of fiscal systems. This ensures that these systems don’t unintentionally reinforce existing inequalities and are designed to advance gender equality. The “Gender Equality Seal”, a certification process supporting public institutions to mainstream gender and promote more gender-responsive policies, was also introduced.
Next GED-related event coming up
Customs administrations representatives interested in participating in the WCO’s work on GED are invited to join the Virtual Working Group on GED, which will hold its next meeting on 04 November 2025.
The WCO Network for Gender Equality and Diversity
The network was formally launched on 08 March 2022 on the occasion of International Women’s Day. In line with the Declaration on GED in Customs, the network aims to enable Customs officers and leaders to share their experiences and exchange ideas among themselves and with other participants. Other key objectives include identifying the benefits of implementing gender-responsive and inclusive policies in Customs, as well as ways to ensure sustainable support from senior management and to strengthen collaboration with private-sector stakeholders on these issues.
The network complements the practical work already done by the Virtual Working Group on GED, which was launched in 2017 with the aim of promoting the use of the GEOAT and providing a platform to exchange practical ideas.