The Maldives has called for a woman to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations, saying the selection process must be transparent, merit-based and draw from the full breadth of talent available to the organisation.
Addressing the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Vice President Uz Hussain Mohamed Latheef thanked Secretary-General AntĂłnio Guterres for his leadership and commitment to international cooperation as he approaches the end of his tenure.
He said the process to select Guterres’ successor must be transparent and based on merit.
“For more than eight decades, every Secretary-General has been a man. It is time for women to lead this organisation,” the Vice President said.
He said the next Secretary-General should defend the UN Charter without exception, turn reform into delivery and listen to all member states, including the smallest.
The call comes as the UN prepares to select its 10th Secretary-General. Guterres’ second term ends on December 31, 2026, with his successor set to begin a five-year term on January 1, 2027
The Maldives has also directly entered the selection process, having nominated Virginia Gamba, an Argentine diplomat and senior UN official, as its candidate for Secretary-General in March. The nomination was formally circulated to UN member states by the presidents of the General Assembly and Security Council.
The Maldives’ Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam separately reiterated the government’s position this week, saying the next Secretary-General “should be a woman” and that women’s leadership should reach the highest office of the organisation.
A woman has never served as Secretary-General of the United Nations in its 81-year history. The current selection process includes candidates from several countries, with the Security Council ultimately recommending a candidate for appointment by the General Assembly.
