Activities of the World customs organization in promoting gender equality at customs

Abstract

Purpose. The article highlights the main stages of formation and development of the World Customs Organization’s legal framework for promoting gender equality and diversity at customs. The author emphasizes that in the science of international law, the issue of the WCO’s activities in promoting gender equality at customs has not been the subject of research at the doctrinal level. Method. The article uses the systematic method to analyze the genesis and further evolution of the WCO norms on gender equality; the formal logical method is used to analyze the legal basis of the WCO in the field of gender equality; the axiological method is used to characterize the gender equality in the practical activities of the WCO and the specialized institutions it has created. Results. It is noted that the WCO’s activities in this area were launched in 2013 when the international forum conference “Women in Customs, Trade and Leadership” was organized, which focused on the problems of observance of women’s rights in the labour sphere; issues of taking into account women’s potential and observance of gender equality and diversity in customs activities, etc. Subsequently, the WCO has developed legal instruments, including the following: WCO Declaration on Gender Equality and Diversity, Arusha Declaration (revised), Anti-Corruption and Integrity Program (A-CIP), Model Code of Ethics and Conduct, WCO policy documents (Strategic Plan 2022-2025, Implementation Plan 2023/2024), etc. that contain fundamental norms on gender equality and diversity and impose obligations on WCO member states to implement them in the activities of customs. The article focuses on the practical activities of the WCO in this area. The role of specialized institutions aimed at facilitating the exchange of experience and promoting the principle at the strategic level is emphasized: Gender Equality and Diversity Network, Virtual Working Group on GED. Conclusions. The author concludes that the inclusion of the issue of gender equality in customs by the WCO is aimed at increasing the level of protection of the rights of customs officers themselves from unlawful attacks on honour and dignity (for example, inclusion of provisions prohibiting sexual harassment, violence), observance by the administration of labour rights regarding decent and equal pay, conditions of employment and dismissal, occupation of positions, including managerial positions, by representatives of both sexes, etc. As well as the observance by customs personnel of the rights of persons using customs services, which in turn will undoubtedly increase the level of public confidence in the employees of these structures.