GWL Voices Insights: Interpreting the Current Progress: Making Sense of Numbers

The 2025 edition of Women in Multilateralism reveals that women currently hold 44% of leadership roles across 54 multilateral organizations—a landmark achievement for gender equality. Yet, a closer look exposes persistent structural gaps: only 13% of historical leadership has been female, and nearly half of the 24 women in office today are the first-ever female leaders in their institutions. This sharp increase, while promising, remains fragile.

Female leadership continues to be highly concentrated in a few organizations, with over half of all women leaders in history serving in just 11 bodies. With 19 organizations still never having appointed a woman and key gender-equal roles facing succession in 2026, this pivotal moment calls for sustained, intentional action to secure gains and ensure that gender parity in leadership becomes the norm—not the exception.