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1 WICE: Women in Cybersecurity Empowerment Network [i] (2025)

handle is hein.oas/wicwm0001 and id is 1 raw text is: \ C` WiCE EMOWREN NTOR) In the traditionally male-dominated field of cybersecurity, where women make up only 24% of the workforce (ISC2, 2022) and often face challenges in entering, staying, and advancing, the Cynder project from the OAS's CICTE Cybersecurity Program has taken a significant step forward. It has established WiCE (Women in Cybersecurity Empowerment Network), a network dedicated to empowering women and self-identified individuals (Women+) in cybersecurity across Latin America and the Caribbean. This initiative aims to support and connect cybersecurity professionals, creating a more inclusive and equitable environment in the region. The experiences of women+ in cybersecurity are significantly underrepresented, affecting not only their professional advancement but also the technical analysis and the gen- der-sensitive design of cybersecurity policies that address cyber risks. To bridge this gap, WiCE (Women in Cybersecurity Empowerment Network) aims to cultivate a regional cyber- security culture that is inclusive, gender-responsive, and empowering for women+ in ICT. This initiative strives to narrow the gender gap that contributes to an insecure cyberspace for women and non-binary individuals across Latin America and the Caribbean. In cybersecurity, an industry where only 24% of the workforce are women (ISC2, 2022), women continue to face challenges in entering, remaining, and progressing in their careers. The Cynder Project of the CICTE/OAS Cybersecu- rity Program has launched WiCE to build a supportive network for female and self-identified women (Women+) professionals, fostering growth and inclu- sion in the field. Despite a high level of education among women+ in cybersecurity-with almost 50% holding master's degrees-many remain in entry-level positions: close to half work as analysts, only 8% occupy C-level roles, and 61% fall within the industry's lowest pay scales (Marchiori B. et al., 2024). Additionally, around 70% lack membership in professional associations, limiting their access to training opportunities beyond formal education. According to OAS research, it could take nearly 67 years for Latin America's ICT sector to close its gender gap (OAS, 2022, p. 5). The shortage of women in cybersecurity also limits the sector's capacity to address gender-based online risks, including digital violence. As in the physi- cal world, women and gender-diverse individuals face heightened vulnerabil- ity to cyber threats and gender-motivated cyberattacks in digital spaces. Through its initiatives, WiCE is committed to fostering an inclusive cyberse- curity landscape that both empowers women+ and strengthens regional resilience to gendered cyber With the support Canada CYNDER CYBER GENDER PROJECT _Q cuRI~y