The search is on for Kofi Annan's successor. His term as UN Secretary General (SG) expires at the end of this year. So far three candidates have officially announced - Ban Ki Moon of South Korea, Jayantha Dhanapala of Sri Lanka and Surakiart Sathirathai of Thailand.
(More here) Chances are you've never heard of them and it's unlikely you ever will again once Kofi Annan's successor has been elected since early favourites rarely win.
Here is where my pitch for Thoraya Obaid comes in. Currently there are two strong stances: the next SG should be from Asia (because of the rotational system) and the next SG should be a woman. Thoraya Obaid is an Asian woman, to be exact a muslim Asian woman. So far there has never been a woman SG or a muslim SG and only one Asian SG.
Thoraya Obaid currently heads the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and in that position works to fight, among other things Aids and genital mutilation of girls and women. She is a Saudi-Arabian national.
Why Asia? CW has it that it's Asia's turn. So far there have been 3 Europeans, 2 Africans, 1 Latin American and 1 Asian heading the UN. The last Asian SG was U Thant of Burma from 1961-71. The Security Council has the right to nominate a candidate and every permanent member has a right to veto. Since China has said that it will only support an Asian candidate it is unlikely that a candidate from another continent will be elected.
Why a woman? There has never been one. Equality Now has started a campaign to elect a female SG and even Kofi Annan has stated two days ago (on the International Women's Day) that he believes it's time for woman to head the UN.
That said it's hard to find a credible Asian woman candidate. Three of those mentioned by Equality Now have great crudentials but are simply too old (between 76 and 79 years of age). Among the female heads of state and government in Asia I don't see one credible candidate. So only Thoraya Obaid remains.
Thoraya Obaid is an international woman by birth. She was born in Baghdad, went to the American College for Girls in Cairo and received her college education in the US. She has worked within the United Nations since 1975. First at the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia and since 1998 at the UNFPA which she heads since 2001.
I believe Thoraya Obaid would make a good SG since she not only fulfills all criteria but even more in that her election would send a signal. Outside the western world women are faced with harsh realities. A muslim woman as head of the United Nations would send a signal to girls and women, not only in the muslim world, that women do have rights and it would be an encouragement for women to fight for their rights.
If you believe Thoraya Obaid would be a good candidate to be the next Secretary General of the United Nations you can contact the members of the Security Council. A list of all contacts here. (If you ever had an urge to write to John Bolton this is your chance ;))
Since it wouldn't hurt if her own government would support her candidature (however unlikely it might be) you can also contact the Saudi Permanent Mission at the UN: saudi-mission@un.int
More info (in German) on my blog:
http://holdeanemone.blogspot.com/
This diary is cross-posted at MyDD.