GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (March 31, 2026) — Colombia signed the Women Ocean Guardians Commitment at a high-level event at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, becoming the eighth government to pledge action on gender equity in ocean governance. The signing marks a significant milestone for the initiative, which was launched at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference and has rapidly grown into a global movement to place women at the forefront of marine protection and sustainable ocean economies.

The March 25th event, hosted by the Permanent Mission of Germany and co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Grenada, and the United Kingdom, brought together ambassadors, government representatives, international organizations, and conservation partners for a high-level dialogue on inclusive ocean governance. It was organized in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Conservation International (CI), the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), the Geneva Environment Network, and Blue Ventures.

Antje Leendertse, Ambassador from Germany to the United Nations, said: “It is important to recognize and celebrate the vital contributions of women as driving forces in the fields of marine conservation, the blue economy, and marine research - not just on International Women’s Day. The pressure on the ocean is greater than ever before. Climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing pollution are taking a heavy toll on our ocean. This reality calls for decisive action in which gender equality cannot only be taken into account but must also be actively integrated into maritime policy.”

Elizabeth Taylor Jay, Ambassador for the Oceans and Coastal Zones of Colombia, said: “Colombia’s signing of the Voluntary Commitment pays tribute to the women who, from coastal territories, have historically protected the oceans. Through this signing, Colombia reaffirmed its international leadership in inclusive ocean governance and highlighted the role of thousands of women guardians – fishers, scientists, mangrove restorers, Indigenous and community leaders – who care for the sea beyond traditional economic activities.”

With each signing, governments send a signal that sustainable ocean management must include the people most dependent on healthy seas – and that women, who make up the majority of small-scale fishing communities worldwide, must have an equal seat at the table where decisions are made.

“This event is a powerful example of how the collective leadership of Women Ocean Guardians is uniting governments and partners to drive systemic change towards inclusive ocean governance,” said Pamela Castillo, Director of the 30x30 Marine Program at WCS. “Joining seven countries already committed as well as over 25 organizations including Blue Ventures, Colombia’s signing reflects growing momentum. We thank Germany for convening this moment and recognize the leadership of Armenia and Fiji, as co-hosts of COP17 and the upcoming Pre-COP31 respectively, in linking this initiative to key global processes. When women on the frontlines are empowered, marine protected areas are more effective and sustainable ocean use becomes a reality.”

“Women are central to the life of the sea, and yet systematically sidelined from the decisions that shape it. That gap is not inevitable, but a choice – and it can be unmade,” said Ebrima Saidy, CEO of Blue Ventures Conservation. “We stand with the Women Ocean Guardians initiative because we know that transforming ocean governance must go beyond adding women to a room.”

By signing the commitment, governments pledge to align national ocean, climate and biodiversity plans with global frameworks, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement; elevate coastal women into formal decision-making roles in marine governance; support financing mechanisms for women-led conservation and climate-resilient livelihoods; and strengthen monitoring frameworks to track women's inclusion in ocean policy and management.

"This event inspired me to see how more countries and organizations are joining this initiative, taking it to new territories,” said Cristina Cáceres, lead for the Guanaja, Honduras chapter of the Bay Islands Conservation Association and a member of the Women Ocean Guardians Initiative. “This gives us hope and allows us to imagine a future where more communities are involved in the protection of the ocean."

The Women Ocean Guardians Initiative, co-led by WCS and CI, has already connected women leaders from 11 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean. At the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, the Global Environment Facility announced intentions to support a $3.8 million Women Ocean Guardians project – the first GEF investment of its kind targeting exclusively women in ocean conservation – to expand the network into Asia and Africa and scale programming on the ground.

Governments, international organizations, and institutions are invited to sign the Voluntary Commitment. To learn more or sign on, visit womenoceanguardians.org/take-action.

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The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. To achieve our mission, WCS, based at the Bronx Zoo, harnesses the power of its Global Conservation Program in nearly 60 nations and in all the world’s oceans, and its five wildlife parks in New York City, visited by 4 million people annually. WCS combines its expertise in the field, zoos, and aquariums to achieve its conservation mission. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org. Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: +1 (347) 840-1242.