Laura Gil, the first woman elected as Assistant Secretary General of the OAS

Diplomat Laura Gil was elected this Monday as assistant secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), becoming the first woman to hold the organization's second-highest position.

Gil, who was competing against Peruvian Ana María Sánchez and Guatemalan Claudia Escobar, was elected in a second round of voting, obtaining the support of 19 member states and thus achieving an absolute majority.

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The Colombian national born in Montevideo, Uruguay, will assume the position for the 2025-2030 term, replacing Belizean Néstor Méndez, whose term ends on July 16.

The diplomat will hold the second-highest position in the organization, behind only Surinamese Albert Ramdin, who was elected secretary general last March, replacing Uruguayan Luis Almagro, becoming the first Caribbean national to lead the OAS.

After his election, Gil declared that his priority is the "strengthening of the OAS" and promised to work to make the organization "more transparent, more modern, more influential, and more effective."

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"I began my career at the OAS at 25 years old, and I am committed to honoring the dignity you have bestowed upon me: the first female Assistant Secretary General of the OAS. I will not let you down," Gil said.

For her part, Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia welcomed the appointment and emphasized that the OAS "has marked a historic milestone by electing a woman for the first time to serve as Assistant Secretary General."

"It's a source of immense pride, not just for me, but for the entire Colombian people," added Sarabia, who was present at the OAS session held in Washington.

Laura Gil, 59, is currently Colombia's ambassador to Austria, a position she has held since 2023, after serving as Vice Foreign Minister for Multilateral Affairs in Gustavo Petro's administration.

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The official has a solid academic background, experience in international organizations, and an active presence in the media. Gil has distinguished herself for her defense of the rights of women, the LGBTI community, and indigenous peoples. Albert Ramdin and Laura Gil will face crucial challenges such as migration flows in the region, the crises in Haiti and Venezuela, and the Trump administration's skepticism toward multilateral organizations.

EFE