WIDSR Project

According to the 2020 Global Ocean Science Report, women continue to remain underrepresented in ocean science, especially in highly technical categories. The challenge of underrepresentation of women in ocean science is expected to be even further notable in emerging sectors such as deep-sea research and in developing States, particularly the vulnerable group of the least developed countries (LDCs), landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS). This is notably the case because of a general lack of financial resources to access the deep sea and insufficient academic training in deep-sea related disciplines. More efforts are therefore needed globally to achieve gender equity in ocean science, and particularly in the LDC, LLDCs and SIDS.

Cognizant of these challenges ISA, together with the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), is committed to improve the conditions needed to promote women empowerment and access to leadership position in deep-sea research for women from developing States, with a particular focus on women scientists from the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS and thereby. Actions in that direction will also contribute to the strengthening of the resource base of developing States in emerging sectors.