It's Time for a Different UN: A Madam Secretary-General
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The United Nations has never had a female Secretary-General in its close to 80 years of history. To manifest a commitment to gender equality at this level, GWL Voices started the “Madam Secretary-General” campaign couple years ago.
We need a Madam Secretary-General. Not because it’s “time for women,” not just because it’s the right thing to do, and not even because it’s fair. We need one because we need something different.
At a time when global challenges are emerging in ways we never anticipated, leadership that brings a fresh perspective is crucial. And what could be more transformative for the United Nations than, for the first time in history, having a woman at its helm? A female Secretary-General would reflect half the world’s population and bring a leadership style that is urgently needed in today’s multilateral system.
Women leaders are known for active listening, bridging divides, problem-solving, and focusing on impact. They care for institutions while driving change, and they plan resources effectively. These are not abstract qualities—they are the skills women apply every day in their homes, businesses, and governments. It’s time to bring them to the global stage.
So why not? The question isn’t whether a woman can lead the UN, but how her leadership can drive real change. We don’t expect a single woman to fix an 80-year-old system overnight—this isn’t about finding a superhero. But we do know that systemic change starts with different leadership, and that means breaking the cycle of appointing the same kinds of leaders with the same perspectives.
The UN was built on ideals of equality. Its Charter begins with “We the Peoples,” not “We the Men.” It explicitly states that “men and women have equal rights”—words shaped, in part, by visionary Latin American women in 1945. Women were ready to lead the UN then, and they are more than ready now. The talent is there. The moment is now.
Let’s make history. Let’s give the UN the leadership it has never had—but has always needed.