It's time for a woman UN chief.

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Author: Neuwirth, Jessica1

Regarding Yun Tang's May 31 Opinion piece, "Is it time for an Asian UN chief?": Discussion regarding the next UN secretary-general will be in earnest over the next couple of months, and while there seems to be a consensus that fairness dictates that Asia should have the next "turn," no consideration is paid to the fact that in 60 years, women have never had a turn. Whichever region the next secretary-general comes from - given the UN's stated commitment to achieving gender balance in the organization - the Security Council should be actively seeking qualified women for consideration, rather than waiting for candidates to come forward. Current Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated on International Women's Day that, "[T]he world is ready for a woman secretary-general." We are ready and waiting.

In 1995 at the UN Women's Conference in Beijing, governments pledged to create "mechanisms to nominate women candidates for appointment to senior posts in the United Nations." This is the most senior post - where are the mechanisms? The goal of 50/50 gender equality in the UN by the year 2000 is long overdue.

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By Jessica Neuwirth, President, Equality Now, New York