Diplomacy’s Gender Gap Persists at the UN — But Could the Next Secretary-General Be a Woman?
After eight decades of male-only appointments to the UN’s top post, the time for change is now.
PEACE. SECURITY. SUSTAINABILITY
A world torn by war and geopolitical crises marked the fourth International Day of Women in Diplomacy (IDWD) on June 24, a day dedicated to celebrating women’s contributions to foreign policy and promoting gender equality in global governance. But the backdrop — including the relentless violence in Gaza and the ongoing war in Ukraine — served to underscore the absence of women’s voices in high-level decision-making and peace processes.
At the United Nations headquarters in New York, this year’s IDWD focused on the theme: “Eliminating Structural Barriers to Women’s Leadership in Diplomacy.” The event, led by UN Women and supported by civil society organisations, honoured female trailblazers in diplomacy and drew attention to the historic and ongoing exclusion of women from international leadership. While the tone was celebratory, the numbers told a more sobering story.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
As of January 2025, only 25 countries have a woman serving as Head of State or Government. Cabinet positions remain largely male-dominated, with just 22.9% of ministers globally being women; female ministers are underrepresented in critical portfolios, such as defence and foreign affairs. More strikingly, 113 countries have never had a woman lead their government.
The diplomatic corps fares no better. Only 21% of permanent representatives to the UN are women. Since the organisation’s founding in 1945, only 7% of all ambassadors appointed to the UN have been female, and 73 countries have never named a woman to this role.
Despite decades of progress and a growing body of evidence that gender-inclusive diplomacy improves outcomes, the representation of women at the highest echelons of foreign policy remains painfully inadequate.
A History of Exclusion
Diplomacy has long been a male preserve. From the courts of Renaissance Europe to the backrooms of Cold War negotiations, women were largely absent — or relegated to unofficial roles such as royal emissaries or behind-the-scenes negotiators. Even after World War II, when the United Nations was founded on principles of peace and equality, the inclusion of women in diplomacy remained tokenistic.
Yet there were pioneers. Eleanor Roosevelt helped draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and became a global voice for human dignity. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, India’s delegate, shattered ceilings by becoming the first woman President of the UN General Assembly in 1953. But these were exceptions, not the rule.
Well into the 20th century, countries like the United States and the United Kingdom barred women from joining their diplomatic corps — those who did enter faced systemic discrimination, rigid hierarchies, and institutional cultures hostile to gender equality.
As of 2014, while 143 countries had constitutional guarantees of gender equality, 52 still did not. Advocacy for increasing the representation of women in diplomacy has intensified, emphasising that gender-balanced leadership is not only a matter of fairness but also a prerequisite for sustainable peace and development.
Women, Peace, and the SDGs
Data from UN Women reveal that between 1992 and 2019, only 13% of peace negotiators, 6% of mediators, and 6% of signatories to peace agreements were women. Yet, peace processes that include women are 35% more likely to result in agreements that last 15 years or longer.
These findings align with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5), which calls for women’s full and equal participation in decision-making, and with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, adopted in 2000, which recognises the critical role women play in conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict recovery.
Establishing a Day for Recognition
In 2022, the UN General Assembly officially designated June 24 as the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, thanks to a resolution championed by then-Maldivian Ambassador Thilmeeza Hussain and co-sponsored by 191 countries. The resolution, A/RES/76/269, recognised the need to elevate women’s leadership in global affairs and encouraged all UN members, agencies, and NGOs to commemorate the day in ways that promote awareness and education.
Hussain, now a leading voice in the Women in Diplomacy movement, emphasised that the goal is not only to increase the number of female ambassadors, but to dismantle entrenched systems that exclude women from top diplomatic roles.
Yet, symbolism alone won’t bridge the gap.
The Institutional Divide
The UN, despite its global platform and advocacy for gender equality, faces a credibility problem. In its 80-year history, the United Nations has never had a female Secretary-General, and only four women have presided over the General Assembly. Male dominance in key leadership roles continues to mirror the inequalities the organisation claims to challenge.
We must acknowledge the contradiction, said Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women. We cannot push for gender parity globally while failing to implement it within our own house.
The 2025 IDWD observance emphasised the need for clear, measurable goals. Countries like Sweden, Rwanda, and Mexico have implemented gender quotas in their foreign services, demonstrating that political will can overcome institutional inertia. But most nations have yet to adopt similar measures.
Demanding Accountability
Civil society leaders, former diplomats, and advocates for gender equality are now calling for more than symbolic gestures. Their proposals include:
Gender quotas for ambassadorial appointments.
Mandatory inclusion of gender equality modules in diplomatic training programs.
Integration of IDWD into the UN’s core budget, not just as a commemorative event.
Global Mentorship Networks for Aspiring Female Diplomats.
Regular gender audits and public reporting by foreign ministries and UN bodies.
The media also play a role. Prominent journalist Lyse Doucet of the BBC argues that amplifying the voices of women in diplomacy can shift public perceptions and inspire future leaders. “We need to tell their stories,” she said, “because representation begins with visibility.”
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The Campaign for a Woman Secretary-General
Few voices are more persistent in advocating gender parity at the UN than Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, former Permanent Representative of Bangladesh and architect of Resolution 1325. Speaking at a 2025 forum titled “Gender Equality at the Highest Level: Electing a Woman Secretary-General,” Chowdhury emphasised that after eight decades of male-only appointments to the UN’s top post, the time for change is now.
Citing Article 97 of the UN Charter, which states the Secretary-General “shall be the chief administrative officer of the Organisation,” Chowdhury noted how member states appear to have taken the masculine pronoun “he” literally. “We must ask ourselves why, despite the Charter being the first international agreement to affirm gender equality, we have failed to elect a woman,” he said.
His remarks echoed those of Eleanor Roosevelt, who once observed that major decisions are often made by all-male bodies, thereby pushing aside the unique contributions women can bring to diplomacy and leadership.
What’s at Stake
The urgency to correct gender imbalances in diplomacy goes far beyond fairness. In a world facing complex, intersecting crises — from climate breakdown to artificial intelligence, from forced migration to transnational conflict — diplomacy must evolve to reflect the diversity of the societies it serves.
This is not just about empowering women, said Chowdhury. It is about securing peace, justice, and sustainability for all. Without women at the table, diplomacy will remain incomplete.
As this year’s IDWD fades from the headlines, advocates hope its message won’t. The road to parity may be long, but with growing momentum, more precise demands, and increasing political pressure, the vision of a woman leading the United Nations may no longer be a distant dream — but a real possibility.
Top image: Women diplomats are driving global change, bridging parliaments and international platforms through inclusive leadership. Their voices are shaping a future where diplomacy reflects the needs and rights of all people. Credit: UN Photo/Ryan Brown