New York 16 Aug (ANA) - The secretary-general of the United Nations has said he would like a woman to take over from him. Ban Ki-moon said it was "high time" for a female head, fter more than 70 years of the UN and eight male leaders. Of the 11 candidates in the running to take up the post, five are women. The secretary-general must be recommended by the 15 countries that make up the UN Security Council and elected by the 193 countries in the General Assembly. A new secretary-general is expected to be announced in the autumn. By tradition the role rotates between regions of the world.

Eastern Europe and Russia, which have never had a representative hold the post, say it should be the turn of someone from that region of the world. Candidates for 2016 come from Latin America, Western Europe and Australasia as well as Eastern Europe. Mr Ban did not single out one particular candidate, but he told the AP news agency that there were "many distinguished, motivated women leaders who can really change this world, who can actively engage with the other leaders of the world".

 

The candidates are:

Irina Bokova, Bulgaria

Helen Clark, New Zealand

Christina Figueres, Costa Rica

Natalia Gherman, Moldova

Antonio Guterres, Portugal

Vuk Jeremic, Serbia

Srgjan Kerim, Macedonia

Miroslav Lajcak, Slovakia

Igor Luksic, Montenegro

Susana Malcorra, Argentina

Danilo Turk, Slovenia

Mr Ban said whoever takes the role should have " a clear vision for the world of the future" and commitment to peace, development and human rights.

He or she should champion the rights of vulnerable groups including women and girls, people with disabilities and people with minority sexualities, Mr Ban said.

"If not the United Nations, who will take care of those people?" (ANA)

FA/ANA/16 August 2016-------