In the 80 years of the United Nations’ existence, there has never been a woman leading the organization. Now, the race for the next U.N. secretary-general, set to culminate in 2026, has quietly begun. This week’s upcoming debate on this matter, on Feb. 20 at the United Nations Economic and Social Council chamber, will be a crucial moment in the selection process’ timeline.
While the topic may seem far removed from immediate political priorities, its implications are profound. The leader selected will shape global diplomacy. She will steer multilateral cooperation and address the defining challenges of our time. As the decision phase unfolds, will Africa seize this moment to assert its collective power, or will it allow divisions to dilute its influence?
In 2014, the 1 for 7 Billion campaign successfully pushed for transparency in the U.N. secretary-general selection process, opening it up to public scrutiny and debate. Now, its successor, the 1 for 8 Billion campaign, is building on those gains with a bold call: It’s time for the first woman secretary-general — a feminist leader who embodies the principles of fairness, equality, and inclusion, one that recognizes the ongoing discrimination against women and individuals with nonconforming gender identities and the interconnected nature of discrimination based on gender, race, class, and other factors.
About the author
Gabriela Keseberg Dávalos
Gabriela Keseberg Dávalos is a steering committee member of the 1 for 8 Billion campaign, representing Southern Voice, a network of think tanks from the global south, including over 30 from Africa.
