In the 70 years since the United Nations was founded, there has never been a woman Secretary-General. But with a new leader of the global body set to be selected in 2016, many believe the time to shatter that glass ceiling is now.
Advocates and several diplomats are urging for the next leader to be female. They point to the fact that women represent half of the world’s population, and despite a U.N. goal of promoting gender equality and empowering women – even at the organization, just 24.6% of the highest positions there have been filled by women.
Now, nearly a quarter of U.N. member states are encouraging the organization to pick a woman secretary general for the next term, according to the Associated Press. Those 42 member states signed a document – started by a Colombia ambassador — saying “the time has come for a woman to hold the highest position.”
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That may be easier said than done, as the current selection process is murky, done behind closed doors, and is dominated by the five security council members—U.S., China, Britain, France and Russia.
However, some states are calling for greater transparency this time around and groups like Equality Now have embarked on a campaign to have general equality part of the selection process. The final resolution about the selection process will be adopted in September.









