
The upcoming EU CBRN CoE Newsletter will put the spotlight on Women in CBRN. Meet some of the inspiring professionals contributing to CBRN risk mitigation across the CoE network ahead of the release.
Historically, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) has been a heavily male-dominated field. When thinking about women’s role in development of CBRN substances, Marie Curie jumps into our minds, but this is a whole different story.
Ensuring CBRN security, as well as countering threats and mitigating their consequences is of utmost importance to every single country, while, at the same time, negative consequences would reach far beyond borders of any specific state. Involvement of women in CBRN, just like any other field, means creating equal opportunities for women and demonstrating that CBRN is not an exclusively male field, or at least – it does not need to be. Additionally, with the advancements in technology, globalization and the growing risks posed by climate change, the need for diverse and innovative solutions became crucial. Women’s involvement in the CBRN security and sciences plays a vital role in addressing these complex challenges. Their participation enriches the field with fresh perspectives, fosters collaboration and leads to more inclusive, effective solutions that contribute to global peace and security.
Women participation enriches the field with fresh perspectives, fosters collaboration and leads to more inclusive, effective solutions that contribute to global peace and security.
Insights from my personal path
My journey into the CBRN field was driven by a deep commitment to securing humanity from some of the most devastating threats we face today. With over seven years of experience in managing CBRN risks, I have witnessed the growing impact of climate change on the spread of diseases and damage it does to humanity. As the Head of Secretariat of the South East and Eastern European region for the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centers of Excellence Initiative, my motivation stems from the desire not only to mitigate the risks but also to create a safer, more secure world, enhance preventive capacities of respectful agencies, and foster regional cooperation to minimize the CBRN threats.
From my personal perspective, one of the most significant barriers women face in this field is the historical underrepresentation in security and scientific roles. However, nowadays, qualified and skilled women proved that security is not just a field for men but a platform for excellence by all. I believe that one should not wait for the opportunities, but create them. If you can help, you should be in, no matter the gender: your expertise is crucial to better protect and serve humanity in the CBRN realm.
With the advancements in technology, globalization and the growing risks posed by climate change, the need for diverse and innovative solutions became crucial. Women’s involvement in the CBRN security and sciences plays a vital role in addressing these complex challenges.
Opening people's minds
Quite frankly, I am a big believer in diversity. A diverse and inclusive team is a great asset in the CBRN field, much like any other walk of life. Different perspectives, especially those brought by women, lead to more comprehensive threat assessments and innovative approaches to problem-solving. From my experience, teams that embrace gender diversity are more dynamic and better equipped to tackle the complex, interdisciplinary nature of CBRN threats. After all, women are believed to be better at multitasking, which can prove indispensable in a specific situation.
For women pursuing careers in the CBRN field, my advice is to remain confident in your abilities and seek out mentors and allies who can support your growth. Empower yourself with knowledge, pursue leadership, and remember—your contributions to the CBRN can save lives and create lasting peace. Building a network within professional communities, like the EU CBRN Centres of Excellence, can provide invaluable opportunities for development and collaboration.
Nowadays, qualified and skilled women proved that security is not just a field for men but a platform for excellence by all.
I think it is of outmost important to advance policies that make things fair for everyone in the CBRN world. This could mean promoting equal access to education and investing in STEM education for girls and women, offering scholarships and mentorship programs, and challenging gender stereotypes in these fields, as well as ensuring women have leadership opportunities by implementing targets for women in leadership positions within CBRN organizations, providing leadership training and development programs, and creating networks for women. Additionally, creating workplace environments that value diversity would be a step in the right direction that would eventually result in the environments that are free from discrimination and harassment and fully embrace a culture of inclusivity and respect. We need to open people's minds and get more women involved in fighting CBRN threats. By implementing these strategies and advocating for supportive policies, we can create a more equitable and effective CBRN community.
Empower yourself with knowledge, pursue leadership, and remember—your contributions to the CBRN can save lives and create lasting peace.
In this context, I would like to share my country’s experience, where leadership actively promotes team diversity and women hold high managerial positions. For instance, the Georgian CBRN team is predominantly comprised of women; both the Head of the Secretariat and the National Focal Point are female. Additionally, the almost majority of the National CBRN team, including many active Council experts, are women.
The CBRN is the topic that never loses its relevance, is far from boring and requires to remain engaged at all times. In this regards, the EU CBRN Risk Mitigation Centers of Excellence Initiative has been instrumental to built the capacity through various projects and trainings. Hence, enhancing skills and offering new opportunities for women has always been top of the agenda of the CoE. From my previous experience I have participated in lots of activities conducted by the auspice of the CoE that significantly enhanced my knowledge in mitigating CBRN threats and developed new skills to counter these risks.
Last but not least, as we face new global challenges, I am confident, that the involvement of women in the CBRN is not just beneficial—it is essential. Together, we can build a safer, more secure world for future generations.
5 key policies to advance women engagement in CBRN |
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Details
- Publication date
- 7 October 2024
- Authors
- Service for Foreign Policy Instruments | Joint Research Centre
- CBRN areas
- Bio-safety/bio-security
- Border control and monitoring
- Crisis management
- Denying support for misuse and terrorism
- First response
- Illicit trafficking
- Import/export control
- Investigation and prosecution
- Legal framework
- Post incident recovery
- Protection of material/facilities
- Public and infrastructure protection
- Public health impact mitigation
- Safeguarding information diffusion
- Safety and security
- Transit and trans-shipment control
- Waste management
- CBRN categories
- Chemical
- Biological
- Radiological
- Nuclear
- CoE Region
- SEEE - South East and Eastern Europe