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> WTO Secretariat chart
> Work of Divisions
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WTO Secretariat back to top

The WTO Secretariat, with offices only in Geneva, has 625 regular staff and is headed by a Director-General. Since decisions are taken by Members only, the Secretariat has no decision-making powers. Its main duties are to supply technical and professional support for the various councils and committees, to provide technical assistance for developing countries, to monitor and analyze developments in world trade, to provide information to the public and the media and to organize the ministerial conferences. The Secretariat also provides some forms of legal assistance in the dispute settlement process and advises governments wishing to become Members of the WTO.

The Secretariat staff of includes individuals representing about 70 nationalities. The professional staff is composed mostly of economists, lawyers and others with a specialization in international trade policy. There is also a substantial number of personnel working in support services, including informatics, finance, human resources and language services. The total staff complement is composed almost equally of men and women. The working languages of the WTO are English, French and Spanish.

The Appellate Body was established by the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes to consider appeals to decisions by Dispute Settlement panels. The Appellate Body has its own Secretariat. The seven-member Appellate Body consists of individuals with recognized standing in the fields of law and international trade. They are appointed to a four-year term, and may be reappointed once

Table of regular staff by nationality back to top

Division	Gender	Grades
		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	DDG	DG	Total
Director-General
Appellate Body	Women			1	1	1	3			1					7
	Men						2		1	3	1				7
Council and TNC Division	Women		1		2		2		2	1					8
	Men									4		1			5
DDA Special Duties Division	Men					1					1				2
Human Resources Division	Women		4		4	1	3	2	1	1					16
	Men							1			1				2
Information and Media Relations Division	Women		2		3	2	2	3							12
	Men		1		2	1		2		4		1			11
Medical Unit	Women			1			1			1					3
Office of the Director-General	Women			1	2	2	1		1	2					9
	Men		1						4					1	6
Special Advisor	Women					1									1
	Men											1			1
Deputy Director-General 1
Office of Deputy Director-General 1	Women			1											1
	Men												1		1
Accessions Division	Women			1		2	1	1							5
	Men							1		2		1			4
Economic Research and Statistics Division	Women		1	2	2	1	2	3	5	2					18
	Men			2	2	3	2	7	5	7	1	1			30
Legal Affairs Division	Women			1		2	3	1		1					8
	Men					1		1	2	3	1				8
Rules Division	Women		1	1			1	2	1	3					9
	Men							1	2	4		1			8
Deputy Director-General 2
Office of Deputy Director-General 2	Women					1							1		2
Development Division	Women			1		1	1	1	1	1					6
	Men							2		2		1			5
External Relations Division	Women		1	1	1	1	1	1	1						7
	Men								1	1	1				3
Institute for Training and Technical Co-operation	Women			3	4	2	2	3		1					15
	Men							1	5	8		1			15
Technical Cooperation Audit Division	Men		1							1					2
Trade and Finance and Trade Facilitation Division	Women		1		1		1		3	1					7
	Men								1	1		1			3
Deputy Director-General 3
Office of Deputy Director-General 3	Women					1									1
	Men												1		1
Agriculture and Commodities Division	Women			2		2	2	3	3		2				14
	Men						1		1	2					4
Trade and Environment Division	Women				1		1	1	1	1	1				6
	Men								1	1					2
Trade in Services Division	Women		1	1	2	1		1		2					8
	Men							1	3	5		1			10
Deputy Director-General 4
Office of Deputy Director-General 4	Women					1									1
	Men												1		1
Administration and General Services Division	Women		1	4	11	3	1	2	3	1					26
	Men	7	13	10	9	5	3	1	2	3