Young Women Scientists Join UN Biosecurity Fellowship Programme
December 17, 2025
The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) has launched a special fellowship programme to mark the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which entered into force in 1975.
To commemorate the milestone, UNODA’s Geneva Branch introduced a special edition of the Youth for Biosecurity Initiative, bringing together ten young women scientists from the Global South. The programme aimed to strengthen their understanding of biosecurity and promote women’s leadership in areas related to the BWC. Financial support for the initiative came from the European Union.
Learning Through Webinars and Study Visit
The fellows began the programme with four weekly online webinars held in November 2025. Each session examined key BWC-related topics through a gender-focused perspective.
The webinars covered the foundations of the Convention, the importance of gender inclusion in biosecurity policies, the role of science diplomacy, and practical tools to build leadership skills and professional confidence.
Sharing Professional Experience
In addition to expert lectures, the programme created space for women professionals to share real-world experiences in biosecurity. Speakers represented a wide range of fields, including diplomacy, academia, advocacy, and national implementation work.
Altogether, 19 speakers contributed presentations and briefings during the online sessions, offering diverse insights and career guidance to the fellows.
Senior Officials Welcome Participants
During the opening webinar, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu joined Ambassador Cervone d’Urso, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation, and Ambassador Fernando de Mello Vidal Meyer, Chair of the BWC Working Group and Brazil’s Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament.
The officials congratulated the fellows and encouraged them to apply their knowledge beyond the programme. Nakamitsu urged participants to turn their commitment to biosecurity into practical action within their communities and professional networks.
NEWS DESK
PRESS UPDATE