As the UN ponders its next secretary-general, many say it’s well past time for a woman to lead

At a time when the fight for gender equality is facing backlash, increasing pressure is building for the next leader of the United Nations to be the first woman in its 80-year history. UN Women, which advocates for women's rights, argues that achieving gender parity demands urgent action. Despite progress, it would still take 171 years to attain equality, according to UN Women's recent findings.

Women's political influence is declining globally, with only one in seven countries led by a woman. High-ranking UN Women official Sarah Hendriks noted that the U.N. General Assembly "very much reflected a male-dominated world." She emphasized that the potential for a woman to lead the UN is "energizing" and urged the organization to reflect the equality it promotes worldwide. Hendriks stressed that merely discussing women's leadership is insufficient; the U.N. must eliminate barriers to women's leadership.

The UN has seven candidates to replace Antonio Guterres, who is stepping down after his second five-year term. Among the candidates are two women and three men. However, the candidates faced significant opposition, with the two women receiving more "discourage" votes. The Security Council, comprising five veto-wielding members including the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, and France, has not disclosed their choices. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that certain candidates meet the criteria.

During the weeklong UN General Assembly, there was a noticeable decrease in discussions about gender equality despite the importance of the issue. UN Women's policy director, Hendriks, called for a stronger focus on the gender dimension of technological advancements, particularly AI, arguing that neglecting this aspect could result in a future where technology lacks sufficient gender diversity.