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The nine heads of the Organization so far have represented multiple regions of the world, but no woman has yet held this top position. Women make up half the world’s population and it is time that a woman is appointed as Secretary-General. The preamble to the UN Charter calls on the “Peoples of the United Nations” to uphold the “equal rights of men and women”;  Article One repeats this mantra by linking “international cooperation” with “respect for human rights and for the fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion.” It is time we honor these words that the founders so carefully drafted in their vision for a peaceful world.​

 

The UN is 80 years old; that is a lifetime. Let us make sure that in the next lifetime of the UN, its leadership includes women of merit and gravitas who are supportive of women’s empowerment. Electing a woman at the helm who is significantly gifted to make the UN work as the founders anticipated is a necessary next step in realizing the vision of the UN Charter.

 

The UN’s role as the anchor of multilateralism has come under extreme strain in the 21st century. The number of armed conflicts and complex emergencies is on the increase; the climate crisis is already triggering chaos; and cyber technologies are exacerbating security threats and deepening social polarization. Effective multilateralism for global cooperation to address these crises has never been more desperately needed, yet the United Nations has been found wanting and risks losing its relevance. Multilateralism needs a re-boot. The fact that the UN has never been led by a woman is one of the most striking signs that it is out of step with the times.

 

Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) urges member states to include women at all levels in national,
regional, and international bodies and to ensure their participation in all levels of decision-making.
While gender balance has improved in the last several years, more women should be involved in top decision-making positions. Of the 193 ambassadors to the UN, a small percentage are women. While women’s voices are increasingly heard, the UN still constitutes a culture that is primarily dominated by males. With decades now of experience, women hold many top-level positions in countries around the world – presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers, defense ministers - and have proven themselves to be as competent as men. Consequently, there is a very large pool of talented and experienced women from which to choose our next Secretary-General. Furthermore, the gender knowledge possessed by women is needed in the field to understand the condition that women face in crisis situations and what the appropriate remedies might be. Women not only constitute half the world’s population, they are also the recipients of much of the UN’s assistance; they suffer the most when caught up in violent conflict, and therefore, women must be within policy-making circles and in leadership positions.

 

Electing a woman as UN Secretary-General offers young women and girls around the world hope for their futures and opens doors for other highly qualified women to be considered for other top positions not only within the UN family but also worldwide. The UN supports gender equity (fairness), equality (equal access), and direct involvement that is action-oriented. Women must be included in these policy decisions at the highest level. It is time.