E-commerce Negotiations at the WTO: A gender lens for action

E-commerce is a vital part of commercial activity, yet few provisions on digital trade reference gender equality. This report explores policy reforms needed to bridge the gender divide on digital access, adoption and usage.

The report recommends building e-commerce capacity focused on gender through responsive, well-targeted programmes designed to jump-start women-owned businesses. It recommends a global framework containing provisions on gender equality as well as domestic e-commerce policies that include targets to close the digital gender divide. Better data are needed to evaluate commitments to gender in trade agreements and the private sector can educate governments on gender e-commerce issues.