Guyana’s candidate takes UNSG campaign to France 

Guyana’s candidate for the United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) post, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, has taken her campaign to France, where she had a series of high-level engagements to present her candidacy.
On Wednesday, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett had the honour of meeting with the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, His Excellency Jean-Noël Barrot.
They had a productive discussion and exchanged views on multilateralism and the UN reforms. Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett also took the opportunity to share her vision for the United Nations, including plans to make it more agile, efficient and effective while being responsive and fit for purpose.
Also on Wednesday, the Guyanese diplomat engaged a group of bright young leaders, diplomats, journalists, and members of civil society at La Maison de l’Amérique latine in Paris.
Hosted by the Association Française pour les Nations unies (AFNU) and La Maison de l’Amérique latine, the meeting offered an opportunity to share her vision for the United Nations and to listen to students and practitioners who are actively advancing multilateralism and defending human rights.
She expressed her gratitude to Ambassador Pierre Guignard, Secretary General of AFNU, Ambassador Jean-Marc Laforêt, President of La Maison de l’Amérique latine, for the invitation and to all those who attended and contributed to the discussion.
According to a brief statement from the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett was left inspired by the commitment, ideas, and energy of those working to strengthen multilateralism and to uphold the purposes and principles of our United Nations.

Recognised as a public utility since 1922, AFNU works to promote the UN and multilateralism and to raise public awareness about international issues such as peace and security, development, human rights, and other global challenges such as climate and biodiversity, among other areas.
La Maison de l’Amérique latine was founded in 1946 and serves as an important space for cultural exchanges between the peoples of Latin America and France.
In a June 12 announcement, President Dr Irfaan Ali disclosed that Guyana would be seeking the UN Secretary-General seat and nominated former Foreign Affairs Minister and current Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, for the position. The tenure of the current UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, will end on December 31, 2026.
Since her nomination, Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett has embarked on a global campaign to push her candidacy among major leaders and organisations. In fact, just last week, she appeared before regional leaders at the 51st CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in St Lucia to present her candidacy for the top UN post.
Regional Heads of Government have strongly welcomed Guyana’s nomination and expressed full endorsement for Ambassador Rodrigues-Birkett’s candidacy.
Ambassador Rodrigues is vying for the UN SG post alongside former President of Chile and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet; former President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa of Ecuador; Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi of Argentina; Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development Rebeca Grynspan of Costa Rica; and former President of Senegal Macky Sall.