COMMUNITY

GQUAL is honored to join the Steering Committee of the 1 for 8 Billion campaign, which is doing essential work to ensure that, for the first time in the UN’s 80-year history, a woman is appointed as Secretary-General.

A transparent, participatory, and accountable selection process that considers the importance of equality is the only way to ensure that the UN evolves—and sets a powerful precedent for international leadership across multilateral spaces rooted in gender equality, legitimacy, and shared global values.

But this is not only about breaking a historic barrier. It is about transforming leadership itself.

At a time when multilateralism is under strain and global trust in institutions is fragile, the UN needs a leader who reflects the diversity of the world it serves—someone who embodies its founding principles, including human rights, equality, and inclusive cooperation.

We believe this person must be a woman—not just because no woman has held the role, but because global leadership cannot be credible or effective if it continues to exclude half of humanity.

The upcoming appointment will shape the next decade of international decision-making. The world cannot afford another lost opportunity to move toward truly representative, transformative leadership.

We call on States—and people everywhere—to support this campaign. The outcome will define how the UN responds to the most urgent challenges of our time: from climate justice and conflict prevention to the defense of human rights and inclusive development.

Read more about our joining the Steering Committee here

How can you take action to support the 1 for 8 Billion campaign? 

• Access the campaign’s social media toolkit and help spread the word! https://1for8billion.org/campaign-toolkit 
• Join the campaign as an NGO supporter and join our movement: https://1for8billion.org/ngo-supporter