For the first time in history, a woman could be appointed as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, according to Bloomberg. All nine previous heads of the UN have been men, but recent resolutions and calls for gender equality are putting this issue at the forefront.

In September, a resolution was passed urging UN member states to "seriously consider" female candidates for the role of Secretary-General. Potential candidates include former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, and current UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.

The UN Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Security Council, which conducts the preliminary selection of candidates and can veto any proposed names. Currently, António Guterres has held the position since January 1, 2017.