It’s time for a feminist UN, no excuses

The process to choose a new United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) is nearing its end, with an appointment expected in October. The process has never been more transparent, but as it nears its most critical stage, it has retreated into familiar backroom dealings between the great powers that dominate the Security Council – backroom dealings between men, as it has always been.  It is no surprise then that this process has not, in its more than 70 year history, produced a woman Secretary General.

The UN is by far the most significant international organisation in world politics. It’s wide ranging reach and influence can determine our responses to some of the most serious issues facing humanity – including many directly affecting women. So it’s about time we had a female UNSG, and if we want a UN that lives up to its core values of human rights, equality and justice, it’s about time we had a feminist UNSG.

Unprecedented support

One welcome difference with this year’s process has been the number of women candidates. While in 2006 there was only one female candidate, this year half of the initial 12 were women. This is also the first time that the start of the race has been announced publicly, with a letter which explicitly highlighted the “need to guarantee equal opportunities to women” and encouraged countries to put forward women candidates. Looking around the world, there certainly seems to be a genuine appetite for it.

The current Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, has been vocal in expressing support, saying “it’s high time” for a female UNSG, as has former chief Kofi Annan. Another notable call comes from a group of 49 member states, headed by Columbia and Costa Rica, who have fully committed to selecting a female UNSG, and civil society campaigns like the Campaign to Elect a Woman UN Secretary General have been working hard to amplify these demands.

So it would seem that 2016 might give us not only the first female US President, but also the world’s first female UNSG.

Business as usual at the Security Council

Yet sadly, it is becoming quite clear that the men of the Security Council have taken little notice of this. Concerned more about power than actual ‘security’, considerations of gender equality are simply not a concern.

They narrow down the list of candidates using a series of anonymous ‘straw polls’, where the five permanent members, along with the ten rotating members, are asked their opinion on the candidates – they can either ‘encourage’ a candidate, ‘discourage’ them or register ‘no opinion’. Four such polls have already taken place and, considering the strong support among member states for a woman, the performance of the women candidates in these polls have been disappointing. But not a surprise.

Following a poor performance in the first straw poll, the Croatian politician Vesna Pusic, was the first woman to drop out. She also happened to be the only candidate that is an outspoken advocate for gender equality and LGBT rights. After the fourth poll last week, only Irina Bokova, the Bulgarian Director-General of UNESCO, seems to be in with a chance, but with five ‘discourage’ votes against her name, this is also looking unlikely – chances are that one of those votes is a permanent member with the power to veto.

While wider geopolitical concerns will in the end decide this race, the results of the straw polls, the double standards in the treatment of women candidates during the selection process, and the fact that the UN remains a largely male-dominated organisation, would suggest that gender bias has been playing an outsized role. The secrecy of the process makes it hard to judge the extent to which it has played a role, but the relegation of so many impressive women candidates in favour of male candidates speaks volumes.

A feminist woman Secretary General

Gender equality within the UN is a serious problem that needs attention – but we are not calling for a woman Secretary General just because the last 8 have been men or because last year 84% of new appointments to Under- and Assistant-Secretary-General positions were male.  We do not want a woman for the sake of having a woman, or for ‘political correctness’. And while the symbolism of having a woman in one of the most influential positions in world politics would be a monumental achievement, symbolism can only go so far. No, the next UNSG should be a woman, but more importantly, she should be a feminist.

We believe that the discrimination of women and girls goes to the core of all of the world’s social, political and economic problems. When dealing with challenges ranging from the refugee crisis, to peacebuilding, to development – the discrimination and exclusion of half of the world’s population makes it impossible to achieve sustainable and lasting solutions.

The UN has long been used by feminists as a venue to press for policy and law that will advance women’s rights. In 2000, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1325, which reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building and peacekeeping. Adopted just last year, the new Sustainable Development Goals recognises the central role gender equality plays in the health and well-being of all people. What is needed now is a feminist woman UNSG with the commitment and determination to press the UN to deliver on these promises.

A final poll will be held on 26th September. There are rumours that Irina Bokova, who is in third place, may be replaced by another Bulgarian woman, Kristalina Georgieva. This could reinvigorate the race in favour of a woman. Most likely though, political enmity and regional rivalries will decide the race in favour of a man. This would be a great shame and a wasted opportunity.

We in the women’s movement will continue to push for a feminist woman UNSG. As Vesna Pusic said early on, before being  forced to drop out with 11 ‘discourage’ votes against her name – “I happen to be a woman, I don’t think this is enough, I happen to be a feminist and I think this is (important)”.