In 2026, the selection process for the tenth Secretary-General of the United Nations is unfolding under the close attention of the international community. Since its establishment in 1945, the position of UN Secretary-General has always been held by men. Against the backdrop of profound adjustments in global governance structures and the deepening of gender equality principles, the question of whether the UN will welcome its first female Secretary-General has become an increasingly discussed topic among many Member States and civil society.
Since the tenure of former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Celebrity Media has continuously engaged in UN news reporting and publication. Over the years, we have participated in and reported on public meetings, cultural exchanges, and multilateral forum activities organized by dozens of Permanent Missions to the United Nations. Through long-term on-site observation, we have clearly perceived that discussions within the UN system regarding gender balance have gradually moved from the level of advocacy to the level of institutional implementation.
In recent years, the UN Secretariat has made progress in achieving gender parity at senior management levels. Women’s leadership in peacekeeping, human rights, development, and climate-related agendas has continued to strengthen. Many figures in the diplomatic community have noted on various occasions that the future of global governance requires a more diverse and inclusive leadership structure.
Based on years of reporting practice and first-hand observation, Celebrity Media has officially launched a global public platform dedicated to empowering women’s participation in the discourse surrounding the UN Secretary-General issue. The platform aims to bring together constructive discussions from academia, the diplomatic community, and civil society regarding women’s leadership and the future of multilateral governance. It does not target any specific candidate, but rather seeks to promote the continued deepening of gender equality principles within the senior structures of international organizations through rational dialogue and public discourse.
During our participation in numerous events organized by Permanent Missions, we have observed that women diplomats demonstrate distinctive strengths in cross-regional negotiations, the integration of social issues, and cultural communication. In a world increasingly characterized by intersecting challenges, inclusive and consultative leadership styles are becoming ever more vital.
Of course, the selection of the Secretary-General involves regional rotation principles, the structure of the Security Council, and complex international political realities. Gender is not the sole variable; competence, qualifications, and international credibility remain core criteria. Nevertheless, under conditions of equal merit, achieving a historic structural breakthrough has become a pressing issue raised by our times.
The United Nations has now existed for more than eighty years, during which the global landscape has undergone profound transformation. Gender equality has been incorporated into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a globally shared objective. If the UN were to achieve a gender breakthrough at its highest leadership level, both its symbolic and institutional significance would be far-reaching.
From long-term observation to public advocacy, Celebrity Media deeply perceives that the prospect of a female UN Secretary-General is no longer merely an idealistic aspiration, but is increasingly becoming a maturing direction of discussion within the global multilateral system.
The times are sending a clear signal. Whether history will turn a new page in this round of selection remains to be seen by the international community.
