António Guterres is hanging up his boots this year-end after two terms as UN secretary-general (SG). Will his successor, who will take charge on New Year’s Day, be wearing stilettos?
Technically, there’s no bar on giving an SG a third term, but none has got it yet. Nor will Guterres. He gave his swansong address last week.
At the UN, it’s a man’s, man’s, man’s world. In 81 years, the general assembly has had 81 presidents, only five them women, including India’s Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit. The UN has had nine secretaries-general, none a woman.
Chances are fairer, generally and genderwise, this year. In their joint letter inviting nominations, the presidents of the general assembly and the security council requested member-states to consider nominating women.
Though there’s no rule regarding regional representation, various assembly resolutions have favoured rotation of the job among continents. Since Europe has had four SGs, Asia and Africa two each, and Latin America only one till date, the odds favour a Latino this time.
Read more at: https://www.theweek.in/opinion/columns/prasannan/2026/10/02/female-head-on-a-world-body.amp.html
