UNCTAD’s GENDER LECTURE SERIES:
AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE
RAISING
GENDER
ANNE MIROUX*,
MILASOA CHEREL-ROBSON**
The United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretariat is
committed to mainstreaming gender in its work and is also participating in the UN systemwide effort of achieving gender balance at all levels. It is against this background that we
initiated the UNCTAD Gender Lecture Series in 2010. The main objective of the Lecture
Series is to contribute to staff development through academic talks or more practical sessions
on gender-related issues. The events also allow for time for networking. The lectures are
personal contributions and do not represent UNCTAD's views.
The Lecture Series is also an opportunity for us to connect with other United Nations agencies,
programmes and funds as well as with academic institutions and other relevant stakeholders
willing to contribute to the initiative on a pro-bono basis. The first two editions were coorganised with Thunderbird University and the Organization of Women in international Trade
(OWIT) Lake Geneva.
Gender in the 21st century: looking back, moving forward
The first edition of the Series in 2010 was moderated by Dr Sarah Cook, Director of UNRISD.
Professor Elisabeth Prügl, Director of the Gender and Global Change Programme and Deputy
Director of the Graduate Institute in Geneva, spoke about the evolution of the gender concept
with a critical eye on the main milestones of the feminist movement in Europe and North
America. She also shared her thoughts on where the contemporary gender agenda is heading,
focusing in particular on the developing world. Dr Shara Razavi, Research Coordinator at the
United Nations Research Institute on Social Development (UNRISD) and a specialist in
Gender and Social Development, offered an overview of gender inequalities in terms of
access to resources, welfare and opportunities in developing countries. She also underlined
how gender inequities are often perpetuated by deeper social and political factors, thus
slowing progress. She then provided examples of successful initiatives at the national,
regional and international levels. The two presentations and the ensuing discussion set the
stage for exploring best practices in reducing gender inequity.
The Gender Equality Project
The 2011 edition was on the Gender Equality Project (GEP), a landmark initiative whose
motto is “Equal value. Equal respect”. The GEP aims to develop a standardized assessment
methodology for measuring success in gender equality in the workplace. Nicole Schwabb, cofounder of the GEP, shared with the audience the impetus behind the initiative and explained
how the GEP’s methodology will be applicable across industries and regions, thus setting
global standards in gender equality. Positive feedback from some of the world’s largest
multinationals that participated in the pilot phase shows that the project is on the way to
achieve its goal of creating a global certification for gender equality in the workplace.
Discussions during the session left many in the audience convinced that GEP has the potential
of
being
a
tool
for
change
at
the
global
level.
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Women and the career ladder: climbing up or staying put? Unpacking empowerment,
identifying traps and making choices
The third edition of the Series took place on 10 December 2012 and was branded a nuts-andbolts session. Sylvie Jacque, UNOG’s focal point for women co-introduced the session. Based
on her experience of welcoming about 10,000 leaders from 70 countries at WIN conferences
over the past 15 years, Ms Kristin Engvig, Founder of the Women’s International Network
(WIN), underlined the need for women to create their own networks and to be supportive of
each other. She said that “it is by connecting with peers today that women will be empowered
and change the status quo in the long term”.
Dr Paul Vanderbroek highlighted the traps that women often face, including the myth around
do-as-the-boys attitudes. He argued that contrarily to popular beliefs “different gender means
different needs, different gender means different leadership, different gender means different
progression over time and different gender means different behaviour”. He insisted that for
change to happen and be sustainable, organizations need to be gender bilingual. For,
workplaces are gendered and so is access to opportunities.
Both speakers shared strategies and techniques for women to better manage their careers.
Both agreed on the importance of networking, both vertically and horizontally and on the role
of mentors and sponsors. Ms Andrea Delannoy, the discussant, Business Manager at the
Spouse Career Centre, opened the floor by commenting on how lack of self confidence
inhibited women’s career prospects. A lively discussion ensued. Many in the audience voiced
their own experiences of career barriers due to gender related constraints.
At the end of the event, building on the energy generated at the session, a group of UNCTAD
staff decided to initiate a network of women at the UN in Geneva. The network has since
organized thematic brown bag lunches, set up working groups and is expanding beyond
UNCTAD. There was also a call for the identification of training needs on gender. UNOG’s
Focal Point for Women reminded the audience of the survey of needs of staff members that
UNOG was undertaking as an opportunity for voicing such wishes.
Each edition of UNCTAD’s Gender Lecture Series attracted between 50 and 60 participants,
largely women but also a few men. The dynamism of the spin-off activities that the Series has
generated is another testimonial of its usefulness. A quick look at diversity practices within
public and private organizations shows that initiatives for women’s empowerment are gaining
momentum. What is happening at UNCTAD is part of this global trend.
*Director of the Division on Technology and Logistics and UNCTAD Focal Point for Women
**Economic Affairs Officer, UNCTAD
For more information
on the Gender Equality Project: http://www.genderequalityproject.org
Email: info@genderequalityproject.org
On WIN Conferences and workshops near you: http://www.winconference.net/
Email: info@winconference.net
on the Spouse Career Centre: www.scc-swisscareerconnections.com
Email: andrea.delannoy@spousecareercentre.com
on Pvdb Consulting: http://www.pvdb.ch/en/products-services
Email: paul@pvdb.ch
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