Woman SG
Campaign to Elect a Woman UN Secretary - General
Women Nominated for Secretary General:
Carolyn Rodriguez-Birkett Nominated to be Next UN Secretary - General
Guyana’s current Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, has been nominated as the country’s candidate for the position of Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN). President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced the nomination during a national broadcast on Friday evening, stating that the decision followed careful consideration and consultations with experts.
The president said the nomination comes at a time when Guyana’s international standing continues to grow. He pointed to the country’s increasing prominence on the global stage, including its recent tenure as President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) last year. President Ali said the nomination reflects Guyana’s confidence in Rodrigues-Birkett’s extensive diplomatic experience and leadership at the international level.
Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Nominated for UN Secretary General by Antigua and Barbuda
As of May 12, 2026, Antigua and Barbuda has officially nominated Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, former President of the UN General Assembly and Ecuador's ex-Foreign Minister, as a
candidate for the next United Nations Secretary-General. She is the fifth candidate in the race to succeed António Guterres, whose term ends December 31, 2026.
María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés is a distinguished Ecuadorian diplomat, politician, and academic with over 20 years of experience in international relations and multilateral negotiations. Born on September 7, 1964, in Salamanca, Spain, and raised in Ecuador, she holds a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences and Amazonian Studies and a postgraduate degree in Anthropology and Political Science from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) in Quito.
Espinosa has held several high-ranking positions in the Ecuadorian government, including twice serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as Minister of National Defense, and Coordinating Minister of Natural and Cultural Heritage. She coordinated the Sectorial Council on Foreign Policy and Promotion, overseeing the Ministries of Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Foreign Trade, and the Environment.
On June 5, 2018, Espinosa was elected as the President of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, making her only the fourth woman and the first Latin American woman to hold this prestigious position.​Her tenure focused on gender equality, the rights of indigenous peoples, and environmental sustainability. As Chair of the Group of 77 and China, she played a critical role in advancing the interests of developing countries. Espinosa was the first woman to serve as Ecuador’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, where she co-facilitated the revitalization of the General Assembly’s work. She also held the role of Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, where she led negotiations at the Human Rights Council and chaired the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Her contributions to global environmental policy include leading Ecuador’s negotiations at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 16 and 17) and facilitating key elements of the Rio+20 outcome document, “The Future We Want.” She also promoted the resolution “Indigenous women: key actors in poverty and hunger eradication” at the 56th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. Fluent in Spanish, English, and French, Espinosa’s legacy is defined by her unwaveringcommitment to multilateralism, social justice, and environmental protection, making her one of the most influential women in global diplomacy.
Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica Nominated for UN Secretary-General
Costa Rica has nominated Rebeca Grynspan as a candidate for United Nations Secretary-General. Costa Rica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship announced the nomination on
March 3, 2026. She is the second woman nominated in the current selection process, following Michelle Bachelet of Chile.
Grynspan has served as Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and previously held senior roles in the UN system, including as Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme.
She has also served as the Vice President of Costa Rica.
She has indicated that she has chosen to step away from UNCTAD during hercampaign for Secretary-General. Her candidacy presents an experienced leader with a long record in multilateral cooperation and global development.
Michelle Bachelet of Chile Officially Enters UN Secretary-General Race
On February 2nd, 2026, Chilean President Gabriel Boric nominated Michelle Bachelet as a candidate for UN Secretary-General along with Brazil and Mexico.
Bachelet brings decades of experience as a two-term president of Chile and as a senior UN leader, including her roles as High Commissioner for Human Rights and head of UN Women.
She has consistently promoted democracy, human rights, and multilateral diplomacy, making her a notable, experienced, and internationally recognized candidate.
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NOTE: In early March, Chile withdrew its nomination; however, Brazil and Mexico continue to support her as a candidate.
Virginia Gamba of Argentina Nominated by the Republic of Maldives for UN Secretary-General
On March 12, 2026, the Republic of Maldives nominated Virginia Gamba of Argentina as a candidate for United Nations Secretary-General. She joins the growing list of candidates in the
current selection process.
Ms. Gamba served as Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict from 2017 to 2025. Throughout her career, she has held senior roles across the
UN system and international research institutions, focusing on conflict prevention, disarmament policy, and international security, including leadership positions at the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.
Her candidacy presents an experienced leader with a strong record in multilateral diplomacy, peace and security,and the protection of children caught up in armed conflict.
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NOTE: At the end of March, the Maldives withdrew its nomination, however another country may be stepping up.