Women's Leadership

As global instability mounts, the stakes are high for the 79th United Nations General Assembly high-level debate, which begins Tuesday in New York City.

While tensions in Europe and the Middle East continue to dominate the diplomatic agenda and shake up the global order, all eyes will be on the Big Apple for leaders to set the diplomatic agenda for the coming year. This year, once again, the U.N. General Assembly high-level debate will be dominated by men speaking at the rostrum.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says it's time for a woman to lead the United Nations, a call echoed by 14 other female foreign ministers Friday.

"Within the UN system, it is time for the next secretary-general to be a woman," she told reporters in Toronto.

"The UN has been existing for more than 75 years, so it is more than time."

UN Women’s project Women Make Change* underscores the importance of increasing women’s participation and leadership in politics at all levels. Despite global advancements, women continue to be underrepresented in politics, particularly at the subnational level.

"Environmental work is meaningless and income-less. Why don't you go home and help your mother with housework?" This is what I frequently heard when I firstly began volunteering with the Qinghai Snowland Great Rivers Environmental Protection Association (SGR Association). Many couldn't understand why I dedicated my time to protecting our water sources, attending various trainings, and creating eco-friendly products to promote sustainable living. But I didn’t let their doubts stop me. The urgency of climate action is too significant to ignore.

In one of the biggest electoral years in recent history, 107 countries have never had a woman Head of State. In 2024, women held only 27 per cent of seats in national parliaments and 35.5 per cent of seats in local governments.