WTO, Women’s Empowerment and Financial Inclusion

Abstract

Promoting financial inclusion for women is a goal supported by many multilateral organizations and policymakers globally, and the WTO is no exception. This article argues that financial inclusion is crucial to empower women economically and socially. It emphasizes historical barriers that women have faced in accessing financial services. In addition, it underlines the importance of incorporating women’s financial inclusion into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and advocates for leveraging existing structures within the WTO, such as the Council for Trade in Services and the Committee on Trade in Financial Services, to advance this issue. The objective is to facilitate the exchange of experiences and best practices among Members in a structured manner, addressing the regulatory framework of financial institutions and learning from each other, rather than creating new rights or obligations or launching joint initiatives.