MSC 2026 Side Event Power, Politics, and Parity: The Path to the First Female UN Secretary-General

In the run-up to the selection of the next UN Secretary-General (taking office on 1 January 2027), this side event will discuss opportunities, procedures, and power mechanisms with a view to the appointment expected at the end of 2026 – and why a woman from Latin America could take the office this time, provided the Security Council allows it.

With voices from Latin America, committed young UN experts (Youth Delegates to the UN General Assembly), and other professionals from diplomacy, academia, and civil society, the discussion will explore how transparency, equality, and the empowerment of the Global South can influence the selection process – and whether the Security Council and the General Assembly can work together more effectively, in line with the motto of the 80th General Assembly (September 2025–September 2026), “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development, and Human Rights.”

Welcome:
Carolin Maluck, Chair, UNA-Germany Regional Chapter Bavaria

Speakers:

María Fernanda Espinosa, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense of Ecuador, President of the UN General Assembly 2018/2019

Tanja Fajon, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Slovenia 

Mr. Arnoldo André Tinoco, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica

Prof. Dr. Hannah Birkenkötter, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM), UNA-Germany Research Council

Selma Cafferty, Youth Observer to the UN Summit of the Future 2024

Moderator:

Dr. Ekkehard Griep, Chair, UNA-Germany

To participate in person Please register here.

The event will be streamed live via the Amerikahaus Youtube channel.