Background on Gabriela Ramos Patiño
Gabriela Ramos Patiño, a Mexican diplomat and economist, was a candidate for the position of Director-General at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Born in Michoacán in 1964, Ramos Patiño holds degrees from the Universidad Iberoamericana and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She has had an extensive career in international organizations, including nearly two decades at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), where she held various positions. In 2020, she was appointed Deputy Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO, a role she continues to occupy.
UNESCO Director-General Election Process
The 222nd session of UNESCO’s Executive Board will take place in Paris from October 1 to 15, 2025. During this session, the board’s 58 member countries will vote to select a candidate for the Director-General position, covering the 2025-2029 term. The chosen candidate will be presented at the UNESCO General Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November, where 194 member states will convene.
Current Candidates
With Gabriela Ramos Patiño’s withdrawal from the race, only two candidates remain: Khaled El Enany from Egypt and Firmin Edouard Matoko from the Democratic Republic of Congo. El Enany, a former Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, is considered the frontrunner to succeed current Director-General Audrey Azoulay.
Support for Gabriela Ramos Patiño
In March 2025, Mexico’s government put forth Ramos Patiño’s candidacy for the UNESCO Director-General position. Her campaign garnered support from numerous prominent figures, including Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas, rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mariana Mazzucato from University College London, Antonio Zapulla of Thomson Reuters Foundation, Silvia Giorguli from El Colegio de México, Doyne Farmer from the University of Oxford, and Daniel Innerarity from the University of the Basque Country.
Ramos Patiño’s Achievements at UNESCO
Ramos Patiño has been instrumental in advancing UNESCO’s mission, notably leading the negotiation of the first international agreement on ethics in artificial intelligence in 2021, which was adopted by 194 countries.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Gabriela Ramos Patiño? Gabriela Ramos Patiño is a Mexican diplomat and economist with extensive experience in international organizations, including the OECD and UNESCO.
- What is her role at UNESCO? Ramos Patiño served as Deputy Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO until her withdrawal from the Director-General race.
- Why did she withdraw from the UNESCO Director-General race? The article does not provide specific reasons for Ramos Patiño’s withdrawal from the race.
- Who are the remaining candidates? The two remaining candidates for UNESCO Director-General are Khaled El Enany from Egypt and Firmin Edouard Matoko from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- What is the election process for UNESCO Director-General? The 58 member countries of the UNESCO Executive Board will vote during their October 2025 session to select a candidate for the Director-General position, which will then be presented at the UNESCO General Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.
