The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that the online registration for the 2021 Public Forum is now open. The main theme for this year’s Forum, which will be held from 28 to 30 September, is “Trade beyond COVID-19: Building Resilience”. Should you wish to attend you need to do so by 06 September.
The Forum's subthemes are “Enhancing resilience beyond COVID-19”, “Strengthening the multilateral trading system” and “Collective action towards sustainable trade”.
In light of the uncertainties and restrictions related to COVID-19, the WTO will continue to monitor the situation to determine whether the Forum will be held virtually or in hybrid mode. Information on this will be shared in July 2021.
Background
The Public Forum is the WTO’s largest annual outreach event. It provides a unique platform for heads of states, parliamentarians, leading global businesspeople, students, academics and non-governmental organisations to come together and debate on a wide range of WTO issues and on some of the major trade and development topics of the day. Over 1 500 participants attend the Forum each year.
Theme
The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented health crisis with far-reaching socio-economic effects. It has increased poverty and deepened inequality across the world - with women, youth and children the most affected. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), global employment losses stood at 114 million jobs relative to 2019, with the highest number of losses affecting women (5% decline) and young workers (8.7%). Job losses and subsequent loss in income have had far-reaching consequences, including increased stress and mental illness, greater domestic violence and fewer children going to school. The World Bank (WB) estimates that the pandemic will push as many as 163 million people into poverty by this year, threatening progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Public Forum webpage is https://www.wto.org/pf21
Story by: Riaan de Lange