Grossi Advances, Bachelet Falters: ICMB Reaffirms Its Choice for UN Secretary-General

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Contact: Henry Herrera
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Grossi Advances, Bachelet Falters: ICMB Reaffirms Its Choice for UN Secretary-General

August 26, 2026 – The Security Council held its first secret straw poll for UN Secretary-General on July 30, and the tally leaked to the media. (1) Rafael Grossi of Argentina was the only male candidate to emerge from that round, with seven “encourage” votes, and Michelle Bachelet of Chile drew five “discourage” votes. (1)

The International Council for Men and Boys endorsed Grossi on July 8 and reaffirms that endorsement today. (2) We also renew the opposition to Bachelet’s candidacy that we stated on June 3. (3) One test governs both positions — the Charter’s promise of the “equal rights of men and women.” (4)

C-Fam reported the leaked first-round figures: (1)

Rebeca Grynspan, Costa Rica— 10 “encourage,” four “no opinion,” one “discourage”
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Guyana— nine “encourage,” four “no opinion,” two “discourage”
Rafael Grossi, Argentina— seven “encourage,” the only man to emerge from the round
Michelle Bachelet, Chile— five “discourage” votes

Grossi’s vision statement is titled “Renewing the Promise: A United Nations that works.” (5) It affirms that equal opportunity for men and women “is not a matter of image or political correctness” but a source of better outcomes. (5)

Bachelet’s record runs the other way. As UN High Commissioner for Human Rights she said every country should recognize the gender of transgender people “based on self-identification.” (6) In April she made the unverified claim that women “can bring more humanism.” (1)

In June the ICMB wrote to the permanent UN missions of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. (3) Each was urged to use its Security Council veto against her appointment, and to insist the next Secretary-General restore the Charter’s promise to men and women. (3) (7)

European Union countries and numerous NGOs are advocating for a feminist woman to head the UN for the first time in its 81-year history. (1) George Soros is behind the 1 for 8 Billion campaign, which promotes a woman for the post. (1) Antonio Guterres backs Grynspan, whom an NGO leader quoted by C-Fam called one of the UN system’s “leading feminist voices.” (1)

A second poll on August 21 put Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett first with eight “encourage” votes and left Grossi level with Grynspan on seven. (8) Grossi’s “discourage” votes rose from two to six, and Bachelet fell to two “encourage” votes. (8) Further rounds are expected to run into October. (1)

At a minimum, ICMB asks the members of the UN Security Council to:

Support Rafael Grossiin the remaining straw polls.
Require every candidateto state, on the record, how they will deliver the Charter’s promise of equal rights to men and boys.
Decline to supportany candidate whose record treats “gender equality” as a claim for only one sex.

The UN’s neglect of men and boys is documented, not alleged. The ICMB has analyzed UN policy across the 12 areas of male disparity, from health and education to homelessness and workplace deaths. (9) In each, the pattern held — a measured male disadvantage met by no dedicated UN response. (9)

Boys repeat grades more often than girls in 130 of 142 countries, and men die by suicide at more than twice the rate of women. (10) About 80% of the world’s homicide victims are men and boys. (10) The next Secretary-General inherits that record.

The International Council for Men and Boys is a non-governmental organization working to end the 12 sex disparities that affect men and boys worldwide. The ICMB is a leader of the emerging global movement to address these disparities. https://www.menandboys.net/ Donate to ICMB: go to: https://www.menandboys.net/donate/

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