In conversation with Gabriela Ramos MEXICO’S FIRST FEMALE CANDIDATE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO BECOME NEXT UNESCO DG

She has been a game-changer in multiple roles, spearheading UNESCO’s ‘Global Standard on Ethics of AI’ a recommendation applicable to 194 member states including Sri Lanka, emphasizing the protection of human rights and dignity, transparency and fairness.

With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Gabriela Ramos is an inspiring international leader who has dedicated her life to building a more prosperous, fair and sustainable world. An economist, diplomat and international civil servant, Ramos has served in key leadership positions at the global level.

Following an illustrious career with over two decades experience working at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as Sherpa to the G20, Chief of Staff, Head of Strategic Initiatives and Head of the Latin American Office, she later joined United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and served as its assistant director general for Social and Human Sciences since 2020.

This time, Ramos is the only female candidate running for the position of Director General - UNESCO with two other male contenders from Egypt and Congo.

Her vision to shape a more inclusive, stronger and innovative UNESCO for the 21st Century was evident when this writer sat for a conversation with Ramos. While being proud about the fact that she was nominated as the official candidate of Mexico for the post of UNESCO director general by Mexico’s first female President Claudia Sheinbaum, Ramos believes that there is much more service that an organization like UNESCO could do for the betterment of society.

She has been a gamechanger in multiple roles, spearheading UNESCO’s ‘Global Standard on Ethics of AI’ a recommendation applicable to 194 member states including Sri Lanka, emphasizing the protection of human rights and dignity, transparency and fairness.

“We are implementing it in 70 countries including Sri Lanka with a diagnostic tool that help us to know where we are regarding the governance of these technologies and the use of these technologies for good,” Ramos said in an interview with the Daily Mirror during her recent two-day visit to Sri Lanka.

Ramos has been a champion of gender equality and she affirms that UNESCO is an institution that protects professionals, journalists and female journalists but also scientists and artists. Having identified the need to have effective institutions, Ramos highlighted her proposal for success based on three I’s – Inclusiveness, Innovation and Impact. “Inclusiveness because the world is in deep need to give answers to those that need us the most. I think that the political processes at many times seem to be very polarised, reflecting societal fractures that also bring those kind of results. We have to be more inclusive in terms of education because that’s our call; using culture to bring more social impact.

“I talk about innovation because we believe in a world that is rapidly changing. It’s not only the deep disruption we are seeing now in terms of digital transformation which is the core of it. There are more rapid transitions; societal, environmental and even climate change. So all these trends; climate, digital, demography come together. For all of that, we need more science and interdisciplinary approaches and this is what UNESCO can bring because we are the organisation that has science in our name,” she explained.

She further praised the incumbent NPP government for placing emphasis on the science-policy nexus and for getting the best evidence to make policy decisions. However, Ramos said that neither inclusiveness nor innovation would be possible if there is no impact.

“That’s the third ‘I’ that I put in my vision statement because impact means that we need to be the top of an institution. I want it to be a useful institution that serves member states with their priorities,” she said referring to a meeting she had with Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath during her campaign trail, seeking support from Sri Lanka in her bid to become the director general.

During her interaction with Dr. Amarasuriya and Herath, Ramos had discussed about integrating AI and technology to bridge the gaps within the education system. As she puts it: “Sri Lanka has a target to allocate 6% of its GDP to education and therefore certain applications could be used by teachers to keep track of students’ outcomes. Learning processes need to be more interactive such as with music etc, to connect with emotions so that children could better understand the subject.

“Even though most countries are investing on technological devices, there’s a decline in student outcomes. In most countries, the technologies are so alien that it doesn’t connect with the kids. We also discussed about how we could support the National AI Strategy linked to the digital transition because this is a revolution that we need to take advantage of,” she added.

She also recalled how she has had the privilege to assist many countries to improve their education system, telecom system and so on. “Then you see the positive impact in the life of people and that’s what drives me,” she added.

In his remarks, Ambassador of Mexico to Sri Lanka Federico Salas Lotfe said that multilateral organisations like UNESCO should have the type of leadership, creativity, imagination and initiatives similarly to what Ramos aspires to do. “We are particularly happy that she is a woman and would very much like to see someone like her leading an organisation which is as important as UNESCO to all of us including journalists around the world,” he added.

Ramos’ name was nominated as the official candidate for the post of director general – UNESCO by the Mexican government just two days prior to the closing date for applications. While being confident about ascending to this top post at UNESCO, Ramos is ‘committed to lead UNESCO into a future where innovation, inclusivity, and empowerment will drive global progress into the 21st Century’ as reiterated in her vision statement.