During a debate on Tuesday, three of the candidates seeking the position of secretary-general argued that it is time for a woman to lead the United Nations.
Antonio Guterres, who is leaving office at the end of the year after two five-year terms, is being challenged by Michelle Bachelet of Chile, Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, and Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador.
During a debate hosted by independent organisations in Geneva, the location of the UN's European headquarters, the three highlighted their diplomatic qualifications.Naturally, I believe a woman—it's about time, isn't it? "After 80 years" of the UN's existence, former foreign minister Espinosa stated.However, the 61-year-old stated that "the best woman, not any woman"—a "leader with a lot of energy"—should be the next secretary-general.Many nations are pushing for the first female head of the UN, and Latin America is vying for the post on the basis of the tradition of geographical rotation, which isn't always adhered to.Bachelet, a former UN rights chief and former president of Chile, stated that women can contribute more compassion.
She also stated that a woman "but not any woman" should be the next chief and that she was not scared to "risk that what I try doesn't work."When it's necessary, I don't hesitate to speak up," she continued.The head of UNCTAD, a UN trade and development agency, Grynspan, 70, announced her candidature "because I think I am the best person for the job."
The former Costa Rican vice president is advocating for a selection method that does not give preference to women.The debate took place at the Maison de la Paix, which is close to the UN Palais des Nations and houses a number of NGOs.The two other declared candidates were also invited: former Senegalese president Macky Sall, who sent a brief video greeting, and Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Argentina.

UN "irreplaceable"
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council—Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States—have veto power over recommendations made to the UN General Assembly of member states.
It is anticipated that discussions in the Security Council would start in late July, followed by a vote in the General Assembly in the next months.
The three contenders in Geneva outlined their plans for reforming the UN on Tuesday. The organization is dealing with a lack of resources, numerous crises, and a decline in trust in multilateralism."The UN is not the only game in town," Espinosa remarked.

"But the UN is irreplaceable because it's the only universal platform that brings all countries together to face and respond to the challenges of the world of today," she stated, drawing on her background as a previous General Assembly president.
"The UN is unique, but it's not alone," Grynspan stated, adding that it had a "culture problem" and needed to figure out how to collaborate with outside forces."An independent secretary-general, always on the ground" is what Bachelet, 74, claimed she would be.Because of her support for abortion rights, Republican politicians in the US have already pushed Washington to ban Bachelet."If somebody vetoes me because I believe in democracy, because I believe in multilateralism, because I believe in women's rights, and because I believe in human rights, I mean, I would be honoured," she later told reporters.