Аннотации:
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.
