Empower UN Women: Strengthen Global Gender Leadership

General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock of Germany addresses the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women. Only the fifth woman to preside over the UN General Assembly in its 80-year history, she praised the courage of those “who fought for every phrase, every word in the Beijing Declaration,” marking the 30th Anniversary of the pivotal international conference on women’s empowerment.

In her opening statement, Annalena Baerbock of Germany, President of the 80th UN General Assembly and only the fifth woman to hold this role in 80 years, stated:

“Our future as an institution will also be shaped by the selection of the next Secretary-General. In nearly eighty years, this Organization has never chosen a woman for that role. One might wonder how, out of four billion potential candidates, not a single one could be found. Like 80 years ago, we are standing at a crossroads.”

As the UN prepares to appoint its next Secretary-General in 2026, the world is rallying behind a long-overdue milestone: the possibility of a woman leading the UN for the first time in its history. Civil society campaigns like “1 for 8 Billion” are gaining traction, and 92 Member States have expressed strong support for a woman candidate, 28 of them formally advocating for female leadership.

This moment is not merely symbolic—it is foundational. The UN Charter, adopted in 1945, enshrines gender equality, pledging “faith in fundamental human rights… and the equal rights of men and women.” That promise must be fulfilled not only in principle but in practice.

Yet while breaking the glass ceiling at the top is vital, the mandate of UN Women—the entity responsible for advancing women’s rights globally—faces threats that could undermine its influence.

Created in July 2010, UN Women consolidates four UN entities dedicated to gender equality: UNIFEM, DAW, OSAGI, and UN-INSTRAW. Designed as a force multiplier, it mainstreams women’s rights across peacebuilding, development, and human rights initiatives. Over 15 years, UN Women has supported inclusive policies, empowered grassroots movements, and embedded gender equality across UN operations.

A proposal within the UN80 reform agenda to merge UN Women with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has raised concerns. While operational benefits such as streamlined programming and stronger coordination may exist, merging risks diluting UN Women’s policy leadership and systemic mandate. Such a move could weaken advocacy, reduce accountability, and shift focus from structural change to service delivery.

Civil society advocates stress that preserving UN Women’s autonomy is crucial. Any merger or restructuring must safeguard its distinct mandate, ensure adequate funding, and maintain its institutional influence.

The next Secretary-General, particularly if a woman, must champion feminist principles, elevate UN Women’s authority, embed gender analysis across UN operations, secure resources, and hold the system accountable. Feminist movements and civil society must remain vigilant to ensure women’s empowerment is not reduced to symbolism or absorbed into narrower agendas.

The UN faces a choice: treat women’s empowerment as transformative or reduce it to a footnote. Empowering women globally requires not just symbolic leadership but strong, independent institutions. UN Women must lead, set the agenda, and advocate with authority for women and girls worldwide.

Shihana Mohamed, a Sri Lankan national, is a founding member and Coordinator of the United Nations Asia Network for Diversity and Inclusion (UN-ANDI) and a US Public Voices Fellow. She is a dedicated human rights activist and strong advocate for gender equality. These views are expressed in her personal capacity and do not reflect any organization.