Germany Signs on to Women Ocean Guardians Commitment at UN Forum, Joining Global Push for Equity in Ocean Leadership

NEW YORK, NY (July 21, 2025) – At a signing ceremony today during the UN-hosted High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Germany has officially signed onto the Women Ocean Guardians voluntary commitment. They are the fourth country to join a global movement to elevate coastal women’s leadership in marine conservation and governance.

The announcement follows the launch of the initiative at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice last month, where Costa Rica, Grenada, and the United Kingdom signed on alongside 20 international organizations – including the German-based Blue Action Fund: one of the world’s largest, multilateral public funders promoting marine conservation and sustainable livelihoods in coastal communities. The commitment outlines bold, concrete steps to embed gender equity across ocean policy and finance.

“Women play a key role in blue economy sectors and help drive forward ocean conservation – and yet their voices far too often go unheard in decision-making processes. This must change. It is vital to strengthen gender equality in ocean governance,” said Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary Secretary of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety in Germany.” Today, I had the great pleasure and privilege of signing, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Women Ocean Guardians’ voluntary commitment to ocean conservation and sustainable blue economies through women’s leadership.”

Germany’s endorsement of this commitment reflects its global leadership in advancing gender equality and marine conservation. In 2023, e.g., the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in Germany launched a Feminist Development Policy aimed at transforming unequal power structures with a specific focus on women and girls. Building on this commitment to enact gender-transformative change and a vision of ocean conservation where women are equal participants, Germany has taken yet another step to help build a more inclusive and resilient ocean governance.

“As a Woman Ocean Guardian, today I celebrate the news that the Government of Germany has signed the Voluntary Commitment,” said Karen Perea Ledezma, Afro Descendant community leader and Woman Ocean Guardian from Quibdo-Chocó, Colombia. “Our Call to Action is being heard, we are being seen, we are unlocking our power, we are making an impact that will contribute to building a better, more resilient tomorrow. Along with all of those women who have fought for the dignity of coastal women, who have placed their hopes in the oceans, in a life with dignity, in finally receiving the recognition that today the Government of Germany is granting us, we celebrate this occasion with great joy.”

By signing, Germany joins 3 governments and 20 organizations (listés ici) pledging to:

• Reinforce inclusive governance in national ocean and biodiversity plans
• Promouvoir les femmes dans des rôles décisionnels au sein des organes de gouvernance marine
• Support financing mechanisms for women-led conservation and climate-resilient livelihoods
• Promote leadership, technical, and financial capacity among coastal women
• Strengthen monitoring frameworks with transparent, equity-focused data and accountability systems.

“By signing this commitment, Governments are sending an important signal about the importance of gender equity in ocean conservation,” said Gerald Miles, Vice President for Strategic Development for WCS Global, who was present at the signing event. “We know that lasting conservation impact depends on local leadership, especially by women on the frontlines of marine protection. Germany’s support strengthens this movement that is unlocking the full potential of women as stewards of our ocean and accelerating progress toward achieving SDG 5 and 14 and a healthier, more resilient planet for all.”

Since its launch, the Women Ocean Guardians initiative, co-led by WCS and Conservation International, has connected women leaders from 11 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean already mobilizing for structural reform in ocean governance.

At the recent UN Ocean Conference, the Global Environment Facility approved a $3.8M Women Ocean Guardians project that will support a range of activities including the expansion of the network into Asia and Africa. This investment, the first of its kind targeting exclusively women, represents a significant milestone in scaling the initiative globally and marks a deepened commitment from the GEF to support gender-equitable, nature-positive solutions. The funding will catalyze new collaborations, policy reforms, and on-the-ground programming that uplifts women-led conservation across different Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs).

“This groundbreaking initiative empowers women frontliners in coastal and marine ecosystems to take a seat at the decision-making table. It is a chance to amplify their voices and drive meaningful change in marine conservation and sustainable use,” said Adriana Gonçalves Moreira, head of the Partnerships Division at the Global Environment Facility. “It embodies the Global Environment Facility’s commitment to fostering inclusive partnerships. By engaging with civil society, women’s groups, youth networks, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, we can unlock collective potential and drive impactful solutions for an enduring future for all.”

WCS acknowledges the generous support of the Thomas L. Kempner, Jr. Foundation and the Global Environment Facility for the Women Ocean Guardians initiative. This contribution has been essential in advancing the initiative’s mission to elevate women’s leadership in ocean conservation and governance.

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Les femmes gardiennes de l'océan

Women Ocean Guardians is a public-private initiative that elevates women frontliners, de-siloing conservation and sustainable use, to participate in meaningful decision-making, transforming ocean governance for more resilient and sustainable outcomes. View the full engagement ici. S'inscrire en tant que gouvernement, institution ou organisation ici.

CI (Conservation International)

MISSION: CI empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature, our global biodiversity, for the well-being of humanity. Building upon a foundation of science, partnership, and field work, with offices in over two dozen countries and a network of thousands of partners, CI implements global solutions to global problems. Visit: www.conservation.org

Société de conservation de la faune (WCS)

WCS combine la puissance de ses zoos et de son aquarium de New York et un programme de conservation mondial dans plus de 50 pays pour réaliser sa mission de sauver la faune et la flore sauvages. WCS gère le plus grand programme de conservation au monde, protégeant plus de 50 % de la biodiversité connue de la Terre, en partenariat avec les gouvernements, les populations autochtones, les communautés locales et le secteur privé. Ses quatre zoos et aquariums (le Bronx Zoo, le Central Park Zoo, le Queens Zoo, le Prospect Park Zoo et le New York Aquarium) accueillent plus de 3,5 millions de visiteurs chaque année, inspirant les générations à prendre soin de la nature. Visitez le site : newsroom.wcs.org. Suivre : @WCSNewsroom. Pour plus d'informations : +1 (347) 840-1242. Écouter le podcast WCS Wild Audio ICI.