GWL Voices Announces Debate with Candidates for UN Secretary-General

The debate among candidates for the Secretary‑General will put at the center the leadership the UN needs in the 21st century.

In the context of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), GWL Voices held a media briefing in a packed room filled with journalists accredited to the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA).

The briefing was led by Susana Malcorra, President and co-founder of GWL Voices, who was a candidate for United Nations Secretary-General in 2016 and previously served as Chief of Staff to the UN Secretary-General.

At a critical moment for the future of multilateralism—amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing distrust toward international institutions—the process to select the next UN Secretary-General is approaching.

During the briefing, GWL Voices reflected on the context and implications of the upcoming election. The candidacy submission process has officially opened and several candidates have already declared their intention to run.

This year also marks an important milestone for the organization. GWL Voices celebrated its seventh anniversary on March 8, marking seven years since the publication of its first open letter advocating for greater transparency and gender equality in the selection of the UN’s top leadership.

In this decisive year, GWL Voices, in collaboration with the United Nations Foundation, reaffirmed its support for a transparent and inclusive selection process and announced the organization of a public debate with all official candidates for Secretary-General. The debate will take place on June 9 at the Maison de la Paix in Geneva.

“The debate aims to become a reference point in the international conversation on the type of leadership needed in today’s global context and the relevance of the UN,” Susana Malcorra told reporters during the briefing. “Our goal is to promote an organization that is capable, effective, and prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”