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Rodrigues-Birkett, UN leadership hopeful: “Not choosing a woman would send a very negative message”

Reported by MercoPress UK

Guyana’s UN ambassador said choosing no woman for the organisation’s top post would convey a negative message. Her remarks coincided with the Security Council’s first informal, colour-coded straw poll of candidates.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director-General, met with Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York, during their official visit to the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria. 9 April 2026.
Illustrative image: Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director-General, met with Permanent Representatives to the United Nations in New York, during their official visit to the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria. 9 April 2026. — IAEA Imagebank/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
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Why it matters

The statement addresses gender representation in the selection of the next UN leader.

Generated scores

Scores are based on the cited reporting and use a 1–10 scale. Read the methodology.

Confidence
6/10
Geographic reach
8/10
Global importance
4/10
Impact magnitude
2/10
Positivity
5/10
Urgency
2/10

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