With International Women’s Day in the rear view mirror, it might be an appropriate time to consider how much progress has been made in closing the gender gap at the United Nations and other international organizations.
The picture is largely mixed, according to a new report, titled Women in Multilateralism 2025, by the GWL Voices, with increasing numbers of women filling senior positions in international organizations, but world governments lagging woefully behind, and the pathway to one of the U.N.’s most visible diplomatic post — the U.N. secretary-general — unattainable.
“We believe that the times require a different type of leadership, a new approach to resolving the issues that we have before us,” said Susana Malcorra, a former Argentine foreign minister and senior U.N. official, who cofounded GWL Voices and serves as its president.
About the author
Colum Lynch
Colum Lynch is an award-winning reporter and Senior Global Reporter for Devex. He covers the intersection of development, diplomacy, and humanitarian relief at the United Nations and beyond. Prior to Devex, Colum reported on foreign policy and national security for Foreign Policy Magazine and the Washington Post. Colum was awarded the 2011 National Magazine Award for digital reporting for his blog Turtle Bay. He has also won an award for groundbreaking reporting on the U.N.’s failure to protect civilians in Darfur.
