9 MAY2026W MAN LEADERGLOBAL W MAN LEADERGLOBAL A 2026 global report by the International Science Council, InterAcademy Partnership, and the Standing Committee on Gender Equality in Science has found that academia continues to fall short on gender equity, with women remaining underrepresented across research, infrastructure, and leadership roles.According to statistics published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, while additional progress has been made over the past decade, there were still only 31.1 percent of women employed as researchers worldwide in 2022 (this was an increase of 29.4 percent from 2012). However, there is still disproportionate representation, with women generally being underrepresented in the engineering and technology fields, whereas in the social sciences and humanities fields, there is a more even distribution of female researchers.With more and more women participating in science, there has not been enough change to provide equal access to senior leadership positions. Women continue to experience significant barriers preventing them from gaining access to senior leadership and other decision-making roles within reputable scientific institutions around the world.Over 130 Scientific Academy and International Unions were surveyed to provide data for the internationally produced report, while almost 600 scientists completed the survey.The report includes evaluations on issues impacting women's access to research funding, including policy support, as well as generating publications. Results found that only 19% of national science academy members were female members in 2025. GLOBAL STUDY FLAGS LEADERSHIP GAP FOR WOMEN IN SCIENCE GLOBAL STUDY MELBOURNE DECLARATION REFRAMES GENDER QUALITY AGENDAGENDER EQUITYAt the Women Deliver Conference, the Melbourne Declaration for Gender Equality was made available. The Melbourne Declaration for Gender Equality, a global commitment to rebalance power, resources, and accountability, aims to close the gap between what is theoretically possible and what has been experienced by girls, women, and gender-diverse individuals.The Declaration focuses on future actions beyond the conference and has been influenced by over 650 voices across regions, generations, and movements. It highlights what is ineffective and what must improve. The Declaration is not owned by one organization but rather by all those who are involved in its advancement."Three decades after Beijing, and thirty-one years after Cairo, we are still arguing with men over whether a woman's body belongs to her," said Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed."Securing the rights of women and girls is the world's unfinished business. If anything, it is moving backward with new technologies amplifying misogyny and online violence."The Declaration has been endorsed to date by various countries, including Colombia, Finland, France, Mexico, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, UK, Uruguay, and Canada.
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