As the 80th session of the United Nations kicks off on 9 September, Ms. Annalena Baerbock, a former foreign minister of Germany, was elected President of the United Nations General Assembly’s 80th session on Monday.
In a secret voting held in a UN Headquarter in New York she garnered 167 votes.
As the presidency rotates among the world body’s five regional groups, with her election to the UNGA president a 44-year-old Ms. Baerbock becomes the first woman from the Western European to take the helm of the world body.
Beginning Tuesday, 9 September, she is the fifth woman to lead the UN General Assembly since the inception of the United Nations that comprise of the five– China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States permanent members who can block Council’s action through veto (or negative vote) even other members support a motion.
After being elected, the President-elect Baerbock, in her acceptance speech, pledged to serve as “an honest broker and a unifier” for all 193 Member States.
Outlining her theme of “Better Together” she also declared her presidency priorities as Making the Organization more efficient and effective; advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and making the Assembly a “truly inclusive forum.”
Highlighting the importance of promoting gender equality, multilingualism, and engagement with civil society and youth, she stressed on the diversity of the General Assembly as the strength of the UN that must embrace each and every country.
The outgoing UNGA President Philemon Yang described Ms. Baerbock as a leader of having a “Better Together” vision.
Secretary-General António Guterres said Ms. Baerbock is the fifth woman to lead the world body.
Also, the current Secretary General Guterres to bid farewell after ending his terms next year (2026) this female restructure could also create a room of an opportunity to rethink woman leadership for the post of Secretary-General beginning 2027.
Earlier, four women Indian diplomat Ms. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, former Vice president of Liberia Ms. Angie Brooks, former ambassador of Bahrain Ms. Haya Rashed Al-Khalifa and former foreign minister of Ms. María Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador had served as the President of the UN General Assembly in 1953, 1969, 2006 and 2018 respectively.
