“Gender
and Trade in the Machreq and
Challenges
and Opportunities for Women’s Livelihoods”
A
Conference Synopsis
Background
The proposed
conference builds upon prior discussions and engagements on gender and trade in
the MENA region.
In November 2004,
CRTD.A held a strategy meeting
with its regional partners to determine the state of actual research and
existing initiatives on gender and trade and to establish priorities for
in-depth country case study in each of the following countries:
Similar
discussions were held during CRTD.A’s regional consultation meeting on gender
and trade in May 2005 in which partners presented updates on local research
undertaken since November 2004 which included gathering of information on
women’s participation in the informal sector, studies of household economies and
the impact of trade on gender relations, review of particular sectors affected
by EUROMED and other relevant trade agreements, impact of the MFA on the
clothing and textile industry, etc....
Subsequently
during the February 2006 regional meeting, CRTD.A and its regional and local partner
organizations established a thorough research plan for each of the countries
listed above and set priorities on distinct actions to be undertaken. Documents and reports of the
above-mentioned meetings are available upon request from CRTD.A
To expand on the important work that has already been developed
(as described above), it is now imperative to further deepen an understanding of
globalization and trade liberalization by providing opportunities and space for
North-South/South-South dialogue.
It is anticipated that through this learning exchange and sharing of
experiences, participants from the Machreq/Maghreb region will be able to
subsequently explore new strategies and approaches which can be implemented
regionally and locally building on the action research and field level
engagement undertaken so far.
This conference, and the preparatory work began in 2004 have been
undertaken in partnership with the Heinrich Boell
Foundation.
The conference will be attended by a selected
group of active NGOs in the Machreq/Maghreb region who have
been part of the preparatory work started in 2004 in addition to selected
participants representing international networks on gender and
trade, local associations involved in gender and
economy issues, and selected representatives of the public and private
sectors as well as international and multilateral
organizations.
FULL INFORMATION IN IS IN ATTACHED FLYER.
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