Monaco advocates for female UN leadership and sea-level action

At the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Monaco has advocated for the appointment of a woman as the next Secretary-General. Minister of State Christophe Mirmand emphasized that no woman has led the organization in its 80-year history, noting that four of the seven current candidates are women.

In addition to leadership diversity, Monaco expressed support for a political declaration on sea-level rise, which calls for urgent action to protect territories and economies. Mirmand also called for the defense of international law, UN organizational reform, and the establishment of international governance for artificial intelligence based on ethics and human rights.

Pressure for female leadership comes as UN Women reports that, at current rates of progress, gender equality could take 171 years to achieve. The agency highlighted ongoing global challenges, including sexual violence and child marriage, as the search for António Guterres’s successor continues.