On April 13, 2026, a meeting of the World Customs Organization Virtual Working Group on Gender Equality and Diversity (VWG GED) took place. The session was marked by a historic record: representatives from 53 member countries participated, out of 77 officially registered customs administrations worldwide. The group welcomed several new members, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Costa Rica, China, Spain, Vietnam, and Uruguay.

The fact that the State Customs Service of Ukraine chaired this session, rather than simply participating, underscores Ukraine’s leading role in building a modern customs environment. In this framework, the principles of equality and inclusivity serve as the foundation for global capacity building.

The primary focus of the meeting was the advancement of the WCO Gender Equality Agenda and the introduction of Regional Focal Points for Gender Equality and Diversity in five global regions: West and Central Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, East and Southern Africa, and the Europe Region. These Regional Focal Points will assist the WCO Secretariat in collecting best practices and engaging new countries in implementing gender equality principles within customs administrations.

Furthermore, participants reviewed successful case studies from the customs administrations of Cambodia, Rwanda, Peru, Pakistan, and Canada regarding the integration of a gender perspective into daily operations. The session concluded with hearing candidates for the VWG GED leadership positions for the 2026–2027 term.