# Africa: UN @81 - Time for Woman to Lead

> UN marks 81 years as call for first female leader grows.
- Title: Africa: UN @81 - Time for Woman to Lead · Allafrica | Shortify
- Summary: UN marks 81 years as call for first female leader grows. The UN must appoint its first female Secretary-General to address gender imbalance after 81 years of…
- Keywords: gender equality, secretary general, un women leadership, un 81st anniversary, antónio guterres, news, world, politics, Africa, Time, Woman, Lead
- Source: Allafrica — https://allafrica.com/stories/202610260386.html
- Published: 2026-10-26T11:53:50+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: un, gender equality, secretary general, un women leadership, un 81st anniversary, antónio guterres, news, world, politics
## UN marks 81 years
The United Nations celebrated its 81st anniversary on October 24, 2026, with a historic opportunity to align gender equality with leadership.
## All Secretaries-General were men
Since 1945, the UN has had nine male Secretaries-General, creating a persistent gender imbalance in leadership.
## Call for first female leader
The international community must choose a qualified woman for UN leadership to address gender imbalance and uphold UN founding principles.
## Key takeaway

The UN must appoint its first female Secretary-General to address gender imbalance after 81 years of male leadership.