As the United Nations marks its 80th year, a sobering reality persists: Every secretary-general has been a man.
Despite the organization’s commitment to equality and empowerment, it is not just a matter of historical oversight; it is a symptom of a chronic anomaly that has plagued the U.N. since its inception — the sidelining of women in leadership.
Merit is not at odds with equality. I support choosing the best candidate, period. But after eight decades without a woman secretary-general, it strains credulity to claim the absence of qualified women.