Chile’s Michelle Bachelet, a candidate for UN secretary-general, believes the world is ready for a woman to lead the global body and modernise it.
SANTIAGO: Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet says the world is ready for the United Nations to have its first female secretary-general.
The 74-year-old, nominated for the top UN job by Chile’s outgoing leader, stated she would bring a different kind of leadership.
“I think the world is ready,” Bachelet told AFP after meeting with Chile’s president-elect to seek his support.
She said she would help the UN modernise and become more efficient, effective, and transparent.
The UN has never had a woman lead the organisation in its 80-year history.
Only one Latin American, Peruvian Javier Perez de Cuellar, has held the position, which is expected to rotate to the region next.
Bachelet served two non-consecutive terms as Chile’s president and was the first head of UN Women.
She later served as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Commenting on Venezuela-US tensions, Bachelet suggested regional mediation might be more effective than UN channels.
“It doesn’t always have to be the full General Assembly, the full Security Council,” she said.
She noted that when a Security Council member with veto power is involved, it can hinder solutions.
“I think having such powerful mediators from the region… could be a solution,” Bachelet added.
Brazil’s and Mexico’s presidents have offered to mediate the dispute.
Three other Latin American women are also candidates for the UN leadership role.
They are Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, Mexico’s Alicia Barcena, and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
The other candidate is International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi from Argentina.
