New York, U.S., 01 October 2026: The Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) and UN Women signed an agreement to launch a new global program, Women Empowerment in Cybersecurity, aimed at advancing women's participation and career progression in cybersecurity worldwide.  The agreement was signed at United Nations Headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

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This program contributes to addressing one of the sector's most pressing challenges; namely, that women represent only 24% of the global cybersecurity workforce, amid a persistent shortage of 2.8 million professionals, according to GCF's 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Report.​

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The program's aim is to advance global awareness and strategic partnerships to develop practical pathways for more women to seek meaningful careers in cybersecurity, recognizing their contribution to the sector as both a security and economic imperative. ​

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Through a global-to-local approach, the program will tailor its resources and delivery to different languages, cultures, and technological contexts to maximize the program’s reach and impact. This will translate global momentum into practical, locally relevant pathways for more women to enter and advance in cybersecurity.

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The program supports the goals of the Women Empowerment in Cybersecurity (WEC) global initiative, instated by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia and implemented by GCF, which aims to strengthen global cyber resilience by increasing women’s participation in the cybersecurity workforce, supporting inclusive capacity-building, and contributing to efforts to close the global cybersecurity talent gap.​

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As the Women Empowerment in Cybersecurity program progresses, its tools and resources will be integrated across the wider United Nations ecosystem to continuously support workforce development and women's empowerment. This will amplify the partnership's impact and establish a long-term, sustainable model for expanding women's participation in cybersecurity worldwide.​