At UN headquarters, four of six candidates for Secretary General on the stage were women. I attended that recent candidate forum and listened to the women give smart and thoughtful answers to the questions. And I wondered: Could it be possible, after 80 years, for a woman to be elected to head this global organization?
There's been a definite push to choose a woman for the next Secretary General starting January 2027 as current SG Antonio Guterres finishes his second five-year term. Also, if regional tradition is followed, the next SG should come from Latin America or the Caribbean.
The only thing is the nominee is chosen by the Security Council with all the five veto-power countries – France, Russia, China, Britain and the United States – having to agree. Then the nominee is presented to the General Assembly for a vote.
Since that forum, two more candidates have entered the competition. Here is a list of the current eight candidates, five women and three men. Unless indicated they were nominated by their home country:
Carolyn Rodriguez Birkett of Guyana. She is her country's permanent representative to the UN and a former foreign minister. (Personally, she was my favorite at the candidate forum, speaking clearly with a calm demeanor and wanting in particular to give voice to small countries and indigenous people. She also made a point about it being time for a woman.)
Rebecca Grynspan of Costa Rica. She is the head of UN Trade Development (UNCTAD) and a former vice president of her country. She's well-known and respected at the UN and knowledgeable in economics.
Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador, who was endorsed by Trinidad and Tobago, is a former president of the General Assembly.
Michele Batchelet of Chile. She was nominated by Brazil and Mexico. She's perhaps the most experienced as a former Chilean president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. She was also the first head of UN Women.
Ivonne A-Baki of Ecuador. She was nominated by Tonga and is a former Ecuadorian ambassador to the United States.
Rafael Grossi of Argentina. He is the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He's a seasoned professional used to dealing with the superpowers.
Macky Sall of Senegal. He was nominated by Burundi and is Senegal's former president.
Olara Otunnu of Uganda. He is a former Ugandan representative to the UN and a former foreign minister.
Of course, any of the veto-power countries could reject all the candidates and there could be a last-minute surprise choice. The search for a new Secretary General is bound to be a hot topic at the UN General Assembly, meeting September 8-22.
Graca Machel, a former Mozambican politician and widow of Nelson Mandela, reminded the General Assembly that it has the final say, in a recent article in the PassBlue newsletter.
“If the Security Council presents a candidate who lacks the independence, experience, integrity and broad confidence required for the office, the General Assembly is not bound to rubber-stamp that choice. Member states have the right and responsibility to demand a candidate worthy of the Charter and of the peoples in whose name the UN acts,” she wrote.