UNIDIR publishes guidance on gender-responsive cybersecurity

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) has published a compendium of good practices to help governments integrate gender perspectives into cybersecurity policies and strengthen the implementation of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.

Drawing on a series of multistakeholder workshops held with the Stimson Center in 2025, the report brings together existing initiatives and practical examples from governments and other stakeholders. It also identifies lessons learned and recommendations for incorporating gender considerations into national ICT architectures and implementing the UN Framework for Responsible State Behaviour in Cyberspace.

The compendium covers four themes: the gendered impacts of ICTs, the application of international law in cyberspace, the integration of gender into national cybersecurity institutions and strategies, and gender-responsive cyber capacity building. It also includes practical recommendations and a toolbox of resources for policymakers and practitioners.

UNIDIR said the compendium is intended to help governments and other stakeholders strengthen cybersecurity governance through more inclusive policy development and implementation.

Why does it matter?

The compendium reflects growing recognition that cybersecurity governance should consider how cyber threats, policies and digital technologies affect different groups of people. Rather than treating gender as a standalone issue, the report presents it as an element of effective, inclusive cybersecurity policymaking.

By collecting practical examples and recommendations from governments and the wider multistakeholder community, the publication also supports international efforts to strengthen responsible state behaviour in cyberspace and build more inclusive national cyber capacity.

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