As the 2026 UN General Assembly session elects a new Secretary-General (SG), CIVICUS global civil society alliance calls for the first top woman leader in United Nations history.
Replacing Antonio Gutteres in 2027, the next SG must demonstrate a strong commitment to tackling immense geopolitical strife, widespread human rights violations, stalling progress on sustainable development and climate catastrophes.
CIVICUS, as part of the 1 for 8 Billion campaign, is calling for a selection process that is transparent, accountable and inclusive, and for Member States to seize this historic opportunity to appoint the first woman Secretary-General of the United Nations. The selection of the next Secretary-General comes at a defining moment for multilateralism. Conflict, humanitarian crises and environmental destruction continue to cost lives and undermine human rights.
“It’s high time we elect a feminist woman Secretary-General at the UN. Since its beginning, the top global body has failed to represent half of the world’s population.
“Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals remains severely off track, while powerful actors continue to evade accountability for violations of international law and fundamental rights,” said Jesselina Rana, UN Advisor at CIVICUS.
At the same time, civic space is closing globally. CIVICUS Monitor data shows that fewer than 40 countries have an enabling environment for civic freedoms. The closing of civic space weakens accountability and makes it harder to address the crises facing communities around the world.
These restrictions are also reflected within the United Nations itself. During High-Level Week, civil society organisations continue to face significant barriers to meaningful participation, including the suspension of Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)-accredited NGO badges, the lack of a permanent platform for civil society engagement, and continued reports of intimidation and reprisals against people engaging with UN processes.
“At a time when the United Nations needs to rebuild trust, strengthen accountability and respond to an increasingly complex global landscape, excluding the voices of civil society risks further weakening the institution’s legitimacy and effectiveness”, said Jesselina Rana, UN Advisor at CIVICUS.
The next Secretary-General must champion feminist principles through principled leadership and advance an open, inclusive and accountable United Nations, where civil society is recognised as an essential partner in shaping global solutions.