UNITED NATIONS (AP) – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he would personally like to see a woman lead the United Nations for the first time since it was established more than 70 years ago.
As he nears the end of his second five-year term on Dec. 31, Ban said that “it’s high time now” for a female secretary-general after eight men at the helm of the world organization.
There are currently 11 candidates vying to succeed Ban – six men and five women.
But he stressed that the decision is not up to him – it’s up to the 15-member Security Council which must recommend a candidate to the 193-member General Assembly for its approval.
The U.N. chief was asked about the possibility of a female secretary-general during a trip to California last week.