Germany’s Baerbock calls for first female UN secretary-general
German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock is calling for the first woman to lead the United Nations, urging the international body to elect a female secretary-general.
Women make up 50 per cent of every country, Baerbock said at the UN General Assembly in New York, “but in 80 years, this organisation has never had a female secretary general.”
“So if this organisation calls for equality and justice in the world, it is long overdue for us to show it here in New York,” she added. “The next secretary-general of this organisation has to be a woman.”
So far, there have been nine heads of the world organisation, all men, including current secretary-general António Guterres.
Mr Guterres, whose second term ends in 2026, has supported a female successor.
In UN circles, a person from the Global South is considered likely, with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley emerging as a potential contender.
(dpa/NAN)
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