Feminist civil society and movements, including the Gender and Trade Coalition (GTC), have historically championed the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as a crucial forum for trade justice. However, as global crises deepen, the upcoming 16th session (UNCTAD16) in Geneva (October 20–23, 2025) is alarmingly marred by disorganization and the exclusion of civil society. Furthermore, developed nations are once again attempting to block Global South proposals and undermine UNCTAD’s fundamental role.
In response, Regions Refocus spearheads the publication of a GTC statement to collectively express our concerns regarding these detrimental developments ahead of UNCTAD16. Read the full statement here.