{
  "id": 10870915,
  "title": "As the UN ponders its next secretary-general, many say it's well past time for a woman to lead",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/as-the-un-ponders-its-next-secretary-general-many-say-its-well-past",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T05:30:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260930/p2g/00m/0in/024000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a time when the pursuit of gender equality is facing resistance, there is growing demand for the next United Nations secretary-general to be the first woman in its 80-year history. UN Women, an agency advocating for women's rights and leadership in various sectors, has highlighted the slow progress towards gender parity. Despite advancements, it would take 171 years to achieve gender equality based on current rates. Moreover, nearly one in three women worldwide have experienced sexual violence, and one in five girls is married before age 18. Women's political representation is also stagnant, with six out of seven countries still led by men. UN Women's Sarah Hendriks noted that the UN General Assembly meeting underscored a male-dominated world, both in representation and content. She emphasized that electing a woman as the next secretary-general is not merely symbolic but a matter of upholding the equality the UN advocates globally. The agency's director of policy, programs, and intergovernmental division, Hendriks, stressed that a woman's leadership is crucial for creating a multilateral system for the next 80 years, addressing conflicts, promoting economies, and ensuring accountability. However, gender equality was less prominent in speeches during the week-long U.N. high-level meeting, which focused more on conflicts, climate change, and technological advancements. Despite this, some leaders, such as East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta and Botswana's President Duma Boko, called for a woman to lead the UN. The current seven candidates for the position include four women and three men. Two women, Rebeca Grynspan and Caroline Rodrigues-Birkett, topped the poll but faced discouragement votes. The next secretary-general will be chosen by a 15-member council, with the rotating role traditionally falling to Latin America.",
  "summary": "(AP) -- At a time when the fight for gender equality is facing a backlash, pressure is mounting for the next leader of the United Nations to be the fi",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "As the UN ponders its next secretary-general, many say it’s well past time for a woman to lead",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/as-the-un-ponders-its-next-secretary-general-many-say-its-well-past",
        "published": "2026-09-29T18:27:18.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}