With António Guterres’ term ending Dec. 31, 2026, a slate of seven candidates — four women and three men — has renewed calls for the U.N.’s first female secretary-general amid stark gender-equality data from UN Women.
UN Women data show slow global progress: at current rates, gender equality targets are decades away and political leadership remains overwhelmingly male.
Regional rotation favors Latin America for this selection, but final choice depends on the five veto-wielding Security Council members.
Advocates argue a female secretary-general would align the U.N.’s leadership with its mandate on gender equality and could influence multilateral priorities.
# Why this moment matters
António Guterres' term ends on Dec. 31, 2026. The race has focused attention on gender representation at the organization's top. For more than 80 years the U.N. has never had a woman in the role. That record, combined with recent UN Women data showing slow progress on gender equality, has intensified calls for the next leader to be female.
# What the UN Women data say
UN Women's "gender snapshot" projects that at current rates it will take 171 years to reach gender equality — a target originally set for 2015, then moved to 2030. Other findings cited in reporting include: nearly one in three women have experienced sexual violence, nearly one in five girls are married before 18, and gender parity in parliaments is decades away if current trends persist. These statistics are used by advocates to argue that the U.N. should model the equality it asks of member states.
# Who's running and where the votes stand
There are seven candidates vying to replace Guterres: four women and three men. Former Chilean president Michele Bachelet withdrew. In a recent private Security Council straw poll, two women led: Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica received the most "encourage" votes, and Caroline Rodrigues Birkett of Guyana ranked highly as well. Argentina's Rafael Grossi was a close third in that informal vote. Diplomats said those results could prompt new entrants or shifts in support.
# Regional turn and power dynamics
# Voices pushing for a woman
# What this could mean for the U.N.
Advocates see a female secretary-general as more than representation. They present it as a signal about priorities for multilateralism, gender-responsive diplomacy, and inclusion in global decision-making. Observers inside the U.N. point out that choosing a woman would align leadership with the organization's stated goals on women's rights and participation.
# What to watch next
# Bottom line
The 2026 selection is drawing attention because it combines a symbolic milestone — potentially the U.N.'s first female secretary-general — with substantive questions about how the organization addresses global gender gaps. The final decision will depend on the opaque negotiations within the Security Council and whether member states press for leadership that mirrors the U.N.'s gender agenda.
At a time when the fight for gender equality is facing a backlash, pressure is mounting for the next leader of the United Nations to be the first woman in its more than 80-year history.
During his speech at the UN general assembly, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said the next secretary general must be a woman from Latin America. 'And what I'm advocating for this leadership is very clear. Nine men have served as secretary general of this organisation in its 80 years of existence. Now it's t
Informal votes at the United Nations indicate a woman might be the next secretary-general, the first in 81 years. The leading female candidates explain why that would be critical in avoiding war.
Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.