If equality prevails, next UN chief will be a woman,

Rebeca Grynspan, Costa Rica's former vice president and a frontrunner to become the next United Nations secretary-general, said that if equality triumphs over discrimination, the world body will finally see its first woman lead it.



The process to elect the next U.N. chief formally kicked off last week as member states were asked to nominate candidates to take over the role from Antonio Guterres of Portugal from January 1, 2027.



Despite the U.N.'s 80-year history as an international agency for peace and cooperation, the secretary-general role has never been held by a woman, a reality Grynspan says defies explanation given how many women have the merit and credentials to lead.



Publicly declared candidates for the role include Grynspan, who currently serves as secretary-general of the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development, Chile's former President Michelle Bachelet, and Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi.