United Nations, Nov 26 (LatestNewsX) — Leaders of the Security Council and the General Assembly urged countries to break the organization’s glass ceiling by nominating women for the secretary‑general slot that will replace António Guterres.
“Member states are encouraged to strongly consider nominating women as candidates,” the Assembly President Annalena Baerbock and Council President Michael Imran Kanu wrote to United Nations members as the election process started on Tuesday.
They added with “regret that no woman has ever held the position of secretary‑general”.
The vote is slated for next year, with the winner taking office on 1 January 2027 as the tenth secretary‑general after Guterres completes his second term.
So far, two women with high‑level experience in UN bodies have received official nominations from their governments.
Rebeca Grynspan – currently secretary‑general of the UN Trade and Development Agency (UNCTAD) and former Vice President of Costa Rica – was put forward by her country.
Chile nominated former President Michelle Bachelet, who previously served as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
David Choquehuanca was also endorsed by a coalition of 36 groups representing Bolivia’s indigenous peoples; it remains uncertain whether the new Bolivian leadership has formally approved his candidacy.
Under the UN Charter, the Security Council ultimately selects the secretary‑general, as the Assembly only makes the appointment “upon the recommendation of the Security Council”.
The Charter’s use of the masculine pronoun “he” reflects a long‑standing tradition, which leaders now seek to overturn.
In the 2016 election, many expected a woman—ideally from Eastern Europe—to win, and several strong female candidates emerged.
Nevertheless, Guterres, former Portuguese prime minister and former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, prevailed in the Council, receiving the only candidate that satisfied Russia, China and the Western bloc.
The Assembly reaffirmed that “continued efforts towards achieving equal and fair distribution in terms of the gender and geographical balance” are essential.
Candidates must submit a vision statement outlining how they will lead the UN and must disclose the sources of their campaign funding.
Unlike previous elections, the 2016 process brought candidates into the public eye: they issued open vision statements and faced scrutiny from member states and civil‑society groups in transparent hearings.
The advocacy group 1 for 8 Billion, campaigning for a woman in the role and monitoring the vote, has named a number of “rumoured candidates.”
Among these are UN Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohammed, who is of British and Nigerian background and previously served as Nigeria’s environment minister; International Monetary Fund head Kristalina Georgieva, a Bulgarian who was a leading contender in 2016; former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern; Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces of Ecuador, a former Assembly president; and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
Argentinian Rafael Grossi, Director‑General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has also expressed interest in the position.
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