World Social Forum (WSF), Mumbai, January 2004
WCC activities

Background

While global trade has made it possible for small segments of humanity to achieve unprecedented material prosperity, it has had largely adverse impacts on the ecological system and the majority of the world’s population who live in poverty. Women’s rights to an adequate standard of living, to basic needs and services (e.g. food, shelter, education and health) as well as to dignified employment have been particularly harmed. Research has shown that women and men experience global trade differently both as producers and consumers. Because of ascribed economic roles under-girded by patriarchal social structures, the negative effects of global trade tend to be more accentuated for women – regardless of race and religion.

Yet, at the same time, women have demonstrated an extraordinary capacity for confronting trade-related, day-to-day problems of poverty and exclusion in ecologically sustainable and practical ways. They have organized themselves to resist and challenge the corporate forces that threaten their land, livelihood and communities. Moreover, a feminist perspective of the economy provides an alternative approach in analysing multilateral trade policies by enlarging the economic picture to include the often neglected environmental and social spheres where women play an important role.

The interfaith community approaches issues of women and global trade from spiritual, moral and ethical standpoints that call for a more holistic understanding of human economic activity. Fundamental to all faith traditions is the principle of human dignity – including the dignity of women who comprise half of humanity. Based on this principle, the interfaith community must work together in promoting and affirming women’s alternatives towards building a global trading system that is just, sustainable and caring.

Objectives

The seminar is aimed at:
1. Lifting up and building more awareness of women’s views and strategies to transform the global trading system;
2. Affirming the interfaith community’s spiritual, moral and ethical perspectives on women and the global trading system based on a common humanitarian discourse; and
3. Building networks among women and women’s organizations from various faith contexts that are working on trade issues.

Methodology and proposed speakers

A short introduction by the moderator (Rajyashri Waghray, Church World Service) will be made to give an overview of women and trade issues (approx. 3-5 minutes).

An interfaith panel composed of 4-5 discussants will be invited to speak on the impact of global trade on women’s economic, social and cultural rights as well as women’s transformative strategies and alternatives to the global trading system (approx. 10 minutes each).

While coming from explicit faith backgrounds, the discussants will present their views from a common humanitarian discourse. Discussants will be chosen based on experience, expertise, regional and faith representation. The discussants include:

Vibhuti Patel (Center for Women’s Studies, Department of Economics, University of Mumbai/ India)
Josefa “Gigi” Francisco (Development Alternatives for Women in a New Era/Philippines)
Lapapan Supamanta (International Network of Engaged Buddhists/Thailand)
Hellen Wangusa (African Women’s Economic Policy Network/Uganda)
Demere Kitunga (Tanzania Gender Networking Programme/Tanzania)
Coral Pey (International Gender and Trade Network-Latin America/Chile)
Azra Sayeed (Roots for Equity/University of Karachi/Pakistan)

The panel presentations will be followed by an open forum for general debate/discussion/interaction between seminar discussants and participants (approx. 40 minutes). Discussants will be allotted a few minutes for closing remarks (approx. 3-5 minutes each).

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