Archive · 3 Dec 2025
Grynspan: Equality Needed for First Female UN Chief
Rebeca Grynspan, a top candidate to be the next leader of the United Nations, says it's time for a woman to lead the organization.
She believes that if there is fairness, a woman will finally become the UN's secretary-general.
The UN has never had a female leader in its 80-year history, even though many women are qualified.
Grynspan also thinks the UN needs to include more voices from countries that weren't part of its original setup after World War II.
She says the UN should listen to criticisms, like those from former U.S. President Donald Trump, and work to improve.
Grynspan wants the UN to be more open to change and to share power more fairly, especially by giving permanent seats to countries in Africa and Latin America.
Rebeca Grynspan, a frontrunner for UN secretary-general, advocates for the first female leader, emphasizing equal treatment over special privileges.
The election process for the next UN chief began last week, with the term starting January 1, 2027, and likely coming from Latin America.
Grynspan calls for UN reform, including greater inclusivity for member states not part of its original 1945 architecture and permanent Security Council seats for Africa and Latin America.
She acknowledges Donald Trump's criticisms of the UN as potentially constructive, urging the organization to embrace reform and restore trust.
Grynspan highlights the UN's achievements, such as reducing poverty and improving maternal and infant mortality rates, while acknowledging the need for self-reflection and improvement.
- Who
- Rebeca Grynspan, Costa Rica's former vice president and current UNCTAD secretary-general
- What
- Advocacy for the first female UN secretary-general and UN reform
- When
- The election process for the next UN chief began last week, with the term starting January 1, 2027
- Where
- The discussion and potential election process are global, with Grynspan expressing her views in London
- Why
- To promote gender equality and reform within the UN, addressing its historical lack of female leadership and the need for greater inclusivity
- Current UN Secretary-General
- Antonio Guterres
- Next UN Chief Term Start
- January 1, 2027
- Grynspan's Current Role
- Secretary-General of UNCTAD
- Other Public Candidates
- Michelle Bachelet, Rafael Grossi
- Next UN Chief Likely Region
- Latin America
- Current UN Member States
- 193
- Original UN Member States
- 51
- Trump's Stance on UN
- Wary of multilateralism, calls for reform