Women candidates gain momentum for UN Secretary-General amid global crisis

This month, a landmark resolution urging United Nations member states to “strongly consider” female candidates for the role of secretary-general has intensified efforts by advocacy groups such as WomanSG and 1 for 8 billion to champion the appointment of the organization’s first female leader.

Among the speculative frontrunners are prominent figures including Mia Mottley and Jacinda Ardern, the current and former prime ministers of Barbados and New Zealand respectively; Michelle Bachelet, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; and Amina Mohammed, the current UN Deputy Secretary-General. Their candidacies symbolize a growing momentum toward gender inclusivity at the highest echelons of global governance, Bloomberg reports.

However, the pathway for any woman contender remains uncertain amid entrenched geopolitical complexities. Despite US President Donald Trump’s appointment of women to key positions within his administration, his tenure was marked by skepticism toward the UN and resistance to the United States’ traditional role as the organization’s largest financial contributor—a mantle now increasingly assumed by China.

Washington is expected to advocate vigorously for a secretary-general aligned with US policy interests, irrespective of gender considerations. Among the potential candidates is Rafael Mariano Grossi, director of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, whose positions on Iran, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) align closely with US priorities, potentially positioning him as a favored contender in Washington’s eyes.

Beyond gender politics, the forthcoming appointment carries heightened significance as the UN approaches its eighth decade amid pressing global crises. The organization is tasked with navigating multiple protracted conflicts, confronting existential threats from within its host nation, and managing an acute liquidity crisis that threatens its operational stability.

By Vafa Guliyeva