Women are transforming the field of science at FAO’s General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM). 

The GFCM, the regional fisheries management body established through FAO, is working for the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources and sustainable development of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. 

The body draws on the expertise of scientists for fisheries management. Since the body’s inception in 1952, a growing number of women have come on board. Today women play an important role in its expert groups, advisory committees and decision-making bodies and comprise 50 percent of the GFCM Secretariat staff.  

This unfortunately is not the global norm. Fewer than 30 percent of the world’s scientific researchers are women. Despite recent advances, there is still a significant gender gap at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines globally.

Achieving gender equality for women means promoting their vital role in science and all of these disciplines.

On International Day of Women and Girls in science, let’s meet just four of GFCM’s women leading the way:

On International Day of Women and Girls in science, let’s meet just four of the GFCM women advancing gender equality in the Mediterranean and Black Sea