Women Empowerment in Cybersecurity Awards Launched

The Women in Cyber Awards initiative was launched on May 12, 2026, by the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UN Women. This initiative aims to enhance women's participation and leadership in cybersecurity, addressing the current workforce gap where women represent only 24% of the field. The awards recognize organizations that have made significant contributions to women's career progression in cybersecurity through various initiatives. Four award categories have been established: Pipeline Builder, Advocacy Champion, Workforce Enablement, and Leadership and Entrepreneurship. The initiative is part of the broader Women Empowerment in Cybersecurity (WEC) global initiative, which seeks to strengthen global cyber resilience by increasing women's representation in the sector. Applications for the awards are now open to organizations worldwide, highlighting the importance of women's roles in building resilient digital systems.

Key Points: • Women represent only 24% of the cybersecurity workforce, contributing to a talent gap. • The Women in Cyber Awards recognize organizations promoting women's leadership in cybersecurity. • Four award categories focus on different aspects of women's empowerment in the field.