A new hope for women’s leadership at the OAS

GWL Voices regrets that once again, the Organization of American States (OAS) missed a historic opportunity to put a woman at its helm. Despite repeated calls for greater gender parity in multilateral leadership, the top post remains, yet again, in male hands.

However, we see with excitement and hope the possibility of a woman taking on the second highest role in the organization: the Assistant Secretary General. Two seasoned diplomats—Laura Gil (Colombia) and Ana María Sánchez (Peru)—were contenders for the position, marking a rare moment in hemispheric diplomacy where two women are vying for a senior leadership role.

On May 5, 2025, Ambassador Laura Gil of Colombia was elected as the next Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), becoming the first woman to hold this position in the organization's history.

Gil, Colombia’s current ambassador to Austria and former deputy foreign minister, secured 19 votes in the second round of voting, surpassing the required majority. In her remarks, she emphasized her commitment to collaborative leadership and supporting the Secretary General through the institution’s complex challenges. The election, held during the OAS’s 57th Special General Assembly, was hailed as a historic step toward more inclusive and representative leadership. Gil will begin her five-year term on July 17, 2025, following the end of Nestor Mendez’s mandate.

At GWL Voices, we believe that gender equality in global governance is not just about fairness—it’s about impact. When women lead, institutions become more inclusive, more representative, and often more effective. The OAS, like many other international organizations, must evolve to reflect the diverse peoples it serves. This includes empowering women not only symbolically, but structurally—at the decision-making table.