Minister of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting Hon. Myles LaRoda has called for the next Secretary-General of the United Nations to be a woman from the Latin American and Caribbean region, as ministers and global leaders gathered for a high-level discussion on gender parity during the 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70).
Minister LaRoda made the call during a meeting between the Group of Friends on Gender Parity and the President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where ministers of government from around the world who support the initiative examined ways to accelerate women’s representation in global leadership.
The discussion comes as member states consider candidates for the next United Nations Secretary-General. Four nominations have so far been acknowledged in the process: Michelle Bachelet of Chile, former two-time President of Chile and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Rafael Grossi of Argentina, current Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and former Vice-President of Costa Rica; and Macky Sall of Senegal, former President of Senegal, nominated by Burundi on behalf of the African Union.
Bachelet’s nomination is particularly notable in the context of the discussion, as Chile forms part of the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC), the regional bloc that Minister LaRoda argued should now have the opportunity to lead the organisation.
“There is a widely shared expectation, guided by the convention of regional rotation, that the next Secretary-General should come from the GRULAC region,” Minister LaRoda said.
“Our region is home to many accomplished women leaders whose diplomatic, political and administrative experience give us global leaders who are able and ready to serve the international community as United Nations Secretary-General.”
The Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) comprises 33 member states and serves as one of five regional blocs within the United Nations that coordinate positions and nominate candidates for UN bodies.
It was also noted during the high-level discussion that the United Nations has had nine Secretaries-General to date, all of them men. Participants observed that the upcoming selection therefore presents an opportunity to advance gender parity while also following the long-standing convention of regional rotation. Minister LaRoda noted that based on that practice, many member states believe the time has come for the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) to hold the position.
Minister LaRoda pointed to examples of strong female leadership within the region and beyond, noting that Dr. Carla Barnett serves as Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), while the Commonwealth of Nations is currently led by its second female Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey.
He said that as the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, the organisation has an important opportunity to demonstrate its capacity for transformation while remaining firmly anchored in the principles of the UN Charter.
“It is hoped that women from the GRULAC region are fairly seen by the world as capable of producing outcomes that matter to the global public in an increasingly complex global landscape,” Minister LaRoda said.
During the dialogue, participants were reminded that women remain significantly underrepresented in global leadership.
According to figures cited during the meeting, 29 countries are currently led by women, with 32 women serving as Heads of State or Government worldwide.
The President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly also acknowledged the contribution of The Bahamas to the discussion and the strong tradition of women leaders emerging from the Caribbean region.
The Group of Friends on Gender Parity, co-led by Rwanda and Qatar, continues to advocate for balanced representation of women and men across leadership positions within the United Nations system.
The dialogue formed part of discussions taking place during CSW70, which runs from March 9–19, 2026, and centers on advancing rights, equality and access to justice for all women and girls.
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