ARTICLE 19 has joined dozens of civil society, women’s rights, and human rights organisations, as well as international institutions and policy centres, in calling for the next Secretary-General of the United Nations to be a woman.
In a letter addressed to UN Permanent Representatives in New York, the organisations appeal to ambassadors to ‘help address the historic imbalance by announcing that your country will only consider nominating women candidates for the next Secretary-General selection process while encouraging all states to do the same’.
The letter was sent on 21 March as the Commission on the Status of Women drew to a close. Click here to download the letter.
The initiative is led by the organisation 1 for 7 Billion, and the signatories will promote the letter as the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC55) comes to a close on 5 April. It will also be recirculated in September as UN Permanent Representatives prepare to gather in New York for the high-level General Debate.
‘That the next Secretary-General of the United Nations should be a woman is indisputable,’ says 1 for 7 Billion. ‘After almost 80 years of an unbroken succession of men occupying the UN’s top job, it’s long overdue. Momentum is building.’
The full text of the letter has been reproduced below, together with an up to date list of sign-ons. For more information on this initiative or to sign your organisation onto this letter, please email [email protected]
Dear Excellency,
The appointment of a woman Secretary-General is long overdue.
Gender equality is a core guiding principle of the United Nations. It is a fundamental human right and a necessary foundation for a peaceful, fair and sustainable world. However, the Organization cannot claim to be a champion of women’s empowerment when half of the world continues to be excluded from its highest office.
We are calling on you to take matters into your own hands: help address the historic imbalance by announcing that your country will only consider nominating women candidates for the next Secretary-General selection process while encouraging all states to do the same.
Women need the UN, but the UN also needs women. Evidence clearly shows the contribution women bring across all areas of the UN’s work. Progress in breaking the glass ceiling has not been impeded by a shortage of qualified women, but a shortage of opportunity and the limited imagination of decision makers operating in an environment of systemic discrimination.
Despite recent improvements, the sphere of international relations remains woefully monopolised by men: 13 multilateral organizations (including the four largest development banks) have never been led by a woman, 78 years without a woman leading the UN, and just 24% of UN Permanent Representatives are women, as highlighted by GWL Voices.
We ask states to keep this disturbing reality in mind as they consider their nominations for the next UN chief. We ask states to consider the urgent need to restore credibility and faith in the UN’s highest office. We ask states to appoint a woman Secretary-General.
The time is now.
Yours faithfully,
1 for 8 Billion
Access Now
Africans Rising
ARTICLE 19
Associação das Mulheres Diplomatas Brasileiras (AMDB) – Association of Brazilian Women Diplomats
Atlas
Blue Smoke
BRICS Policy Center (BPC)
Casa de Acolhimento Marielle Franco Brasil – Marielle Franco Brasil Shelter Home
Center for Development of International Law
Children’s Investment Fund Foundation
Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS)
CIVICUS
Coalition for the UN We Need
Coalizão O Clima é de Mudança – Coalition The Climate is for Change
COESUS Coalizão Não Fracking Brasil – No Fracking Coalition Brazil
Coletivo AquilombaRI (Coletivo Negro Estudantil da PUC-Rio – Black Student Collective of PUC-Rio)
Coletivo de Entidades Negras (CEN Brasil) – Collective of Black Entities (CEN Brasil)
Coletivo Negro de Relações Internacionais – Brasil (Black International Relations Collective)
Curso de Graduação em Relações Internacionais da Universidade Veiga de Almeida (UVA) – Undergraduate Program in International Relations at Veiga de Almeida University
Democracy Without Borders
European Center for Not-For-Profit Law (ECNL)
Equality Now
FADA – Força Ação e Defesa Ambiental – Action and Environmental Defense Force
Federação Nacional dos Estudantes de Relações Internacionais – National Federation of International Relations Students
Fundación ARAYARA – ARAYARA Foundation
Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS)
Global Citizen
Global Governance Innovation Network (GGIN)
Global Shapers Community – Belo Horizonte Hub
GWL Voices
HVD: Humanistischer Verband Deutschland – Bundesverband – Humanist Association of Germany – Federal Association
Instituto Clima de Eleição – Climate of Election Institute
Instituto de Relações Internacionais (IRI) da PUC-Rio – International Relations Institute at PUC-Rio
Instituto Internacional ARAYARA – ARAYARA International Institute
Instituto PACS (Políticas Alternativas para o Cone Sul) – Alternative Policies Institute for the Southern Cone
Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) – Socio-Environmental Institute
InterAgency Institute
International Alliance of Women
International Centre for Eritrean Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Juventudes do Coletivo de Entidades Negras – Youth of the Black Entities Collective
Kurytiba Metropole
LITIGA – Litigância Climática e de Direitos – Climate and Rights Litigation
Núcleo de Pesquisa em Gênero, Raça e Diferença na Política Internacional (NUGRAD-UFU) – Research Center on Gender, Race, and Difference in International Politics
Observatório do Carvão Mineral (OCM) – Mineral Coal Observatory
Observatório do Petróleo e Gás (OPG) – Oil and Gas Observatory
Observatório Feminista de Relações Internacionais (OFRI) – Feminist Observatory of International Relations
Open Society Foundations
Perifalab
Plataforma CIPÓ
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Política da Universidade Federal Fluminense (PPGCP-UFF) – Graduate Program in Political Science at Fluminense Federal University
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Política da Universidade Federal Fluminense (PPGCP-UFF)
Project Starling
Rede Fé, Paz e Clima – Faith, Peace and Climate Network
Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Southern Voice
Strategy for Humanity
United Nations Association – UK
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom UK (WILPF UK)
WomanSG