United Nations sees historic female‑majority slate for Secretary‑General race

Six candidates are vying to become the next Secretary‑General of the United Nations. The field includes four women—former Chilean President and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, former Ecuadorian Foreign Minister and former President of the UN General Assembly María Fernanda Espinosa, Costa Rican former Vice‑President Rebeca Grynspan, and former Guyanese Foreign Minister and current UN ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues‑Birkett—alongside two men, Argentine head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi and former Senegalese President Macky Sall.

This marks the first time a majority of the candidates are women, a development highlighted by gender‑equality advocates who argue that “the credibility of the multilateral system depends on breaking persistent patterns of exclusion.” The open letter from the “1 for 8 Billion” campaign, backed by more than 160 civil‑society groups, underscores the significance of this shift for feminist movements worldwide.