Leading UNESCO with inclusiveness, innovation and impact: Gabriela Ramos

UNESCO Social and Human Sciences Assistant Director-General Gabriela Ramos – Pic by Upul Abayasekara 

• UNESCO Social and Human Sciences Assistant Director-General Gabriela Ramos contests for UNESCO Director-General position
• Offers vision rooted in practicality and wealth of experience via groundbreaking achievements such as global standard on ethics of AI
• Cites focus on gender imbalances and underutilisation of heritage sites as her goals 

By Janani Kandaramage 

At a time when global cooperation and multilateral leadership is ever more necessary, the candidature for the next Director-General of UNESCO has brought forward Gabriela Ramos, a compelling voice from Mexico. 

Ramos’s candidacy for UNESCO’s top position is centred around a highly progressive vision, with a focus on inclusivity, innovation, and impact-specifically cultural preservation and gender equality. According to Ramos, in today’s polarised international environment, there remains a pressing concern for a more effective and relevant UNESCO-particularly as tensions rise globally and the space for collaboration shrinks.

Her vision involves robust ethical frameworks in regulating emerging technologies, intercultural dialogue to strengthen inclusivity, and equitable solutions aimed at directly impacting stakeholder needs.

“I am very proud to be the candidate of Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico, and even prouder to be the only woman running for the head of UNESCO,” said the nominee, reflecting on a career rooted in diplomacy, international cooperation, and human development.

Proven leader with global expertise

The candidate’s journey began in Mexico’s Foreign Service, which eventually led to prominent roles at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). As the head of the OECD’s Latin American office and chair of the G20 at the OECD, her leadership experience spans multiple continents and sectors. For the past five years, she has served as the Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO, a role in which she has driven immense global progress.

Under her leadership, UNESCO achieved a historic milestone by brokering the world’s first global standard on the ethics of artificial intelligence, a framework endorsed by 194 countries. “This tool helps us understand AI governance and ensure it is a force for good,” she noted. 

Above all, the sector’s budget grew by 143%, expanding the team to tackle challenges relating to youth empowerment, gender equity, anti-racism, and safeguards to free speech.

“This expansion wasn’t just about numbers-it reflected a broader vision that brought tangible progress in critical areas,” she opined.

Her other achievements include promoting ethical governance of emerging technologies such as neurotechnology and quantum computing, enhanced institutional transparency and transforming the Social and Human Sciences sector into a strategic leadership hub within the organisation.

Women at the heart of change

Ramos places gender equality at the forefront of her ideology as potential Director General, underscoring that gender equality is not merely a moral imperative but a strategic necessity for sustainable economic development.​

Drawing from her experience as G20 Sherpa, she recounts advocating for increased female labour force participation as a catalyst for economic growth. By presenting evidence that reducing the gender gap in labour participation by 25% could boost GDP by 5% in G20 countries, she successfully reframed gender equality as both a moral and economic imperative.

“It was a hurdle to convince the Sherpas, but then we did an evidence-based study that was unavoidable to them,” she recalled.

She also added that empowering women leads to inclusive education systems and fosters innovation by bringing diverse perspectives to address complex global discrepancies. 

The Assistant General Director envisions advancing female representation via strategic initiatives that embed inclusivity across UNESCO’s programs. 

Her approach includes expanding efforts like Women4Ethical AI, Women and Girls in Science, and the ‘Transforming MENtalities’ program. “These efforts will dismantle systemic barriers and promote women’s empowerment in education, science, and leadership, signifying our commitment to impactful policy making while driving women to create innovative results in these fields.”

She stressed that the biggest hurdle to achieving pure gender equality was the perpetuation of gender roles and stereotypes in regressive societies. 

Diminishing these limitations, she asserted, involves enhanced community engagement, educational awareness around misogyny, and networking opportunities directed at driving female entrepreneurship. 

Ramos also emphasised the importance of including women in policy-making processes concerning unpaid domestic and care work to create more inclusive and effective solutions, stating that, “platforms that amplify women’s voices are essential in shaping policies that truly address their needs and challenges. This will ease the inclusion of women into workplaces as policies will be made in their favour, after careful consideration of their struggles in work-life balance.”

Economic value of historical landmarks 

Discussing the need for a more balanced representation of historical sites on the World Heritage list, Ramos noted that countries like Sri Lanka have significantly fewer sites compared to countries such as Italy but possesses a wealth of historical heritage that must be leveraged.  As part of her mission, she advocates for increased efforts to safeguard sites in culturally rich yet underrepresented regions, particularly in regions of Africa. “By integrating these sites into tourist offerings, their cultural value can be highlighted while also contributing to local economies,” she emphasised, adding the importance of utilising existing World Heritage sites not just as cultural monuments but as opportunities to drive tourism, education, and economic development.

“These are trying times,” Ramos noted in her vision statement, “with a progressive fragmentation of the international system, growing inequality, and a crisis of trust in multilateralism. But UNESCO has the legitimacy, reach and moral authority to act—and act decisively.”

In addition, she spotlighted Sri Lanka’s underutilised cultural heritage sites suffering from a persistent information asymmetry-where the lack of accessible, accurate knowledge diminishes both public engagement and conservation efforts. Addressing this gap is not merely a matter of tourism promotion, but a strategic necessity for heritage preservation and national education. She aims to enhance visibility and interpretation of these sites to “generate sustainable economic value while safeguarding the country’s cultural identity for future generations.”

Nevertheless, she pointed out the necessity of protecting these sites, especially in times of crisis such as climate change and conflict, by connecting them to local communities for sustainable economic growth. 

“However, most importantly, the value of intangible cultural heritage, such as food, music, and traditions, as vital components of a nation’s identity that should also be recognised and preserved, and that is something I am deeply committed to.”

The path forward

“My experience at UNESCO, the OECD, and in the Government of Mexico attests that I have the strengths and qualities to take this flagship institution into a new phase of inclusive, high-impact and innovative results,” she said.

With elections approaching in October 2025, Ramos aspires for a world grounded in compassion, innovation, and shared responsibility-connecting global agendas with local solutions to ensure a more just, inclusive and sustainable world for all.