Guterres also expressed “great pride” in the fact that the UN has achieved gender parity “at the level of senior management” of the organization
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, defended this Thursday that it is “clearly time for the United Nations, and for the main powers in the world, to have a woman” in leadership.
Asked by the Lusa agency whether he considers it a failure of the UN if the next elected secretary-general is not a woman, Guterres stated that, despite not having voting power in the matter, it is time to see women in the most powerful positions in the world.
“I think it is clearly time for the United Nations, as for the main powers in the world, to have a woman at its head. I have no doubts about that. Now it is not up to me to make the choice, to make the decision, it is not me who votes, so let’s say my opinion is irrelevant”, he indicated, at a press conference in New York.
The former Portuguese prime minister expressed “very pride” in the fact that the UN has achieved gender parity “at the level of the organization’s senior management”, but argued that much more must be done.
“But, if we look at the most responsible positions worldwide, (…) the truth is that, whether in the United Nations or in the leadership positions of the most powerful countries in the world, it is time to see women [no poder]”, he insisted.
This year, UN member states will choose António Guterres’ successor as head of the multilateral organization, which, in its 80 years of existence, has never had a female leader.
Although some Member States clearly argue that a woman should ultimately be chosen for the position, this idea is not unanimous.
Several candidates are already known informally, including former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, and Costa Rican Rebeca Grynspan, currently heading the United Nations agency for Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
Following a tradition of geographical rotation not always respected, the position is this time claimed by Latin America.
It is only on the recommendation of the UN Security Council that the General Assembly can elect the secretary-general for a five-year term, renewable for another term.
António Guterres assumed leadership of the UN in January 2017, having been reappointed for a second term, which ends at the end of 2026.
