Spain has advocated the election of a woman as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN).
José Manuel Albares Bueno, Spain’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, made the call at the ninth annual Women, Peace and Leadership Symposium.
The symposium was organised by the International Peace Institute via webinar on Wednesday.
The symposium had the theme, “Resilience and New Leadership for the WPS Agenda.”
It aimed to promote the integration of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda into broader high-level discussions at the UN.
Albares said women remained under-represented in peace negotiations, security institutions and senior leadership positions, in spite of their central roles in global peacebuilding.
He said the call was particularly important because women were often among the primary targets of violence, including conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence.
According to him, women also faced increasing attacks and harassment in digital spaces, including emerging risks associated with artificial intelligence.
Albares said Spain regarded gender equality as a fundamental pillar of international peace and security.
He stressed that the WPS agenda was not solely about women, but about creating a more inclusive and secure world for everyone.
“It’s not only about women or for women. It’s for everyone, women and men equally.
“It is a strategic necessity in a world facing increasingly complex challenges,” he said.
Albares said Spain had maintained a strong political commitment to the WPS agenda through national action plans, international cooperation and multilateral engagement.
He said Spain’s feminist foreign policy also reflected the country’s commitment to advancing the WPS agenda.
The minister said Spain’s third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, presented in 2026, responded to increasing conflicts and humanitarian crises.
He said the plan provided a roadmap centred on prevention, protection, participation and humanitarian access, all with a gender perspective.
Albares said Spain’s commitment was also reflected in its financial support for UN Women.
He said the country contributed nearly 12 million euros to UN Women in 2025 and expected to increase its support in 2026.
Albares stressed the importance of investing in women’s participation in mediation, diplomacy, peace operations and security institutions.
“Inclusive leadership and the full participation of women is essential to building lasting peace and creating an inclusive, sustainable and prosperous world.
“Spain’s support for a woman as the next UN Secretary-General is based on historical justice, equality and democracy.
“Eighty years after the founding of the United Nations, the time has come to correct what is an anomaly and settle a historic debt,” he said.
Also speaking, Sarah Hendricks, Director of the Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division, UN Women, said 117 countries now had national action plans on women, peace and security.
Hendricks said the number continued to grow year-on-year, adding that the plans now covered two billion women and girls.
“Some countries, with their national action plans, are making very bold new policy commitments and it’s giving this agenda new life,” she said.
