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1 for 8 Billion

Home
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Tracking Member State support for a feminist woman SG
Candidates and speculation
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1 for 7 Billion NGO Supporters
2016 candidates and straw polls
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Featured
South Africa and Romania circulate strong foundation to improve Secretary-General selection process
Jun 6, 2025
South Africa and Romania circulate strong foundation to improve Secretary-General selection process
Jun 6, 2025

The zero draft contains measures which, if adopted, would create a more transparent, well-structured selection process with a more meaningful role for the General Assembly. While there are certain elements missing which we hope to see introduced during negotiations, overall, 1 for 8 BIllion welcomes the draft as a positive foundation to build on - read our commentary for more.

Jun 6, 2025
Bolivia Jumps the Gun With Early Candidate for UN Secretary-General
May 23, 2025
Bolivia Jumps the Gun With Early Candidate for UN Secretary-General
May 23, 2025

Originally published in PassBlue. Bolivia’s delegation to the United Nations circulated a letter to fellow member states announcing the nomination of the country’s Vice President David Choquehuanca as a candidate to succeed António Guterres as secretary-general of the UN. Guterres’s term finishes on Dec. 31, 2026.

May 23, 2025
AHWG elements paper sets positive tone
May 22, 2025
AHWG elements paper sets positive tone
May 22, 2025

Ahead of the member state discussion of the upcoming resolution on the UN Secretary-General (UNSG) selection process, the AHWG co-facilitators circulated an ‘elements paper’ to all member states. 1 for 8 Billion welcomes this step and is pleased to see promising signs of progress towards a more transparent and open selection process.

May 22, 2025
1 for 8 Billion briefs ACT group of 27 member states
Apr 30, 2025
1 for 8 Billion briefs ACT group of 27 member states
Apr 30, 2025

1 for 8 Billion briefed diplomats from the ACT group - a cross-regional group of 27 small and mid-sized countries . The presentation, delivered by 1 for 8 Billion’s Ben Donaldson, advocated for reforms to ensure a more open, inclusive process to select the next Secretary-General and opportunities for civil society collaboration in the upcoming process.

Apr 30, 2025
1 for 8 Billion presents proposals for reform at co-facilitators meeting
Apr 3, 2025
1 for 8 Billion presents proposals for reform at co-facilitators meeting
Apr 3, 2025

On 3 April, 1 for 8 Billion was delighted to take part in a lively discussion organised by the UN Foundation and the co-facilitators of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the General Assembly

Apr 3, 2025
L'Afrique a un rôle clé dans le choix du prochain Secrétaire général de l’ONU
Mar 13, 2025
L'Afrique a un rôle clé dans le choix du prochain Secrétaire général de l’ONU
Mar 13, 2025

Il est temps de se demander quel type de leader serait le mieux placé pour promouvoir les principes d’équité et d’égalité et façonner la diplomatie mondiale. Alors que la phase de décision se met en place, l’Afrique saisira-t-elle cette occasion pour affirmer son pouvoir collectif ou laissera-t-elle ses divisions affaiblir son influence?

Mar 13, 2025
New tool tracks Member State commitments to a feminist woman UN leader
Mar 6, 2025
New tool tracks Member State commitments to a feminist woman UN leader
Mar 6, 2025

New tool from GNWP, NYU SPS CGA, and 1 for Billion shows 92 UN Member States express strong support for a woman UN Secretary-General. Use our new tool to check out your country’s position.

Mar 6, 2025
Momentum growing for changes to the upcoming SG selection process
Feb 23, 2025
Momentum growing for changes to the upcoming SG selection process
Feb 23, 2025

On Thursday 20 February states in the General Assembly called for significant improvements to the upcoming Secretary-General (SG) selection process. A resolution negotiation will now follow, expected to be adopted in time to improve the upcoming SG selection process.

Feb 23, 2025
Opinion: Africa has a pivotal role in choosing a new UN secretary-general
Feb 20, 2025
Opinion: Africa has a pivotal role in choosing a new UN secretary-general
Feb 20, 2025

The next head of the United Nations will be appointed in 2026. It’s time to start thinking about what type of leader will be best placed to push principles of fairness and equality and shape global diplomacy, writes Gabriela Keseberg Dávalos in Devex.

Feb 20, 2025
53 states show "strong" or "very strong" support for a woman SG
Feb 18, 2025
53 states show "strong" or "very strong" support for a woman SG
Feb 18, 2025

Mavic Cabrera Balleza, Ben Donaldson and Anne Marie Goetz write on what latest research shows about members states support for appointing a feminist woman as the next Secretary-General

Feb 18, 2025
1 for 8 Billion urges states to grasp final opportunity for reform ahead of next SG race
Feb 14, 2025
1 for 8 Billion urges states to grasp final opportunity for reform ahead of next SG race
Feb 14, 2025

1 for 8 Billion’s discussion paper, circulated to all member states, asks them to seize the last opportunity to implement reforms in the General Assembly before the next Secretary-General selection process begins later this year.

Feb 14, 2025
1 for 8 Billion welcomes campaign partners from the Southern Voice network
Feb 10, 2025
1 for 8 Billion welcomes campaign partners from the Southern Voice network
Feb 10, 2025

The 1 for 8 Billion Campaign is proud to welcome five new campaign partners. Our partners bring a diverse range of expertise and are vital for ensuring that voices from across the globe can contribute to shaping the UN Secretary-General's selection process in 2026.

Feb 10, 2025
Appointing Madame Secretary-General — A Legal Obligation?
Feb 7, 2025
Appointing Madame Secretary-General — A Legal Obligation?
Feb 7, 2025

First published in Opinio Juris. Natalie Samarasinghe, co-founder of 1 for 8 Billion, highlights how General Recommendation 40 (GR40) lays a strong foundation for making gender parity in leadership a legal requirement.

Feb 7, 2025
The Elders join growing call for a woman Secretary-General
Dec 9, 2024
The Elders join growing call for a woman Secretary-General
Dec 9, 2024

1 for 8 Billion welcomes the emphatic support of The Elders for the appointment of a woman UN Secretary-General.  The independent group of global leaders championed this position at the UN headquarters as heads of Government met in September 2024.

Dec 9, 2024
1 for 8 Billion supports call for OAS states to elect their first woman Secretary General
Dec 9, 2024
1 for 8 Billion supports call for OAS states to elect their first woman Secretary General
Dec 9, 2024

1 for 8 Billion is pleased to have joined over 200 organisations and prominent individuals urging members of the Organization of American States (OAS) to elect its first woman Secretary General in 2025.

Dec 9, 2024
G20 leaders commit to enhancing women's representation at the UN
Dec 3, 2024
G20 leaders commit to enhancing women's representation at the UN
Dec 3, 2024

The G20 Leaders' Declaration, signed in November 2024, includes significant commitments to further the appointment of women to senior positions within the UN. 1 for 8 BIllion will be monitoring how this translates to action in the UN General Assembly throughout 2025.

Dec 3, 2024
General Assembly begins talks on the upcoming Secretary-General appointment process
Nov 13, 2024
General Assembly begins talks on the upcoming Secretary-General appointment process
Nov 13, 2024

At the first General Assembly debate of the session on the selection process for the UN Secretary-General (SG) the most prominent issue was women’s representation in UN leadership positions with many states using the opportunity to raise the need to appoint a woman Secretary-General - a central demand of the 1 for 8 Billion campaign.

Nov 13, 2024
1 for 8 Billion welcomes new international obligations on women’s representation
Oct 25, 2024
1 for 8 Billion welcomes new international obligations on women’s representation
Oct 25, 2024

The rights of women to participate in in international decision-making spaces has been strengthened with the adoption of important new guidance on women’s representation by CEDAW member states. The guidance makes it clear that women must have “equal and inclusive representation” in all decision-making systems and that, as a starting point, this requires no less than 50-50 parity between women and men.

Oct 25, 2024
1 for 8 Billion: campaign launch makes waves in the call for Madame Secretary-General
Sep 26, 2024
1 for 8 Billion: campaign launch makes waves in the call for Madame Secretary-General
Sep 26, 2024

On Friday 20 September the campaign launched its policy platform. Natalie Samarasinghe moderated the discussion with H.E Maritza Chan-Valverde, Ambassador of Costa Rica to the UN, Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Susana Malcorra, President and Founder of GWL Voices, and Shamala Kandiah Thompson of Security Council Report. 

Sep 26, 2024
World summit calls for states to put forward women candidates when the time comes
Sep 22, 2024
World summit calls for states to put forward women candidates when the time comes
Sep 22, 2024

Today world leaders gathered at UN headquarters to adopt the Pact for the Future. 1 for 8 Billion welcomes the Pact for the Future’s commitment to run a transparent, inclusive selection process and its support for a woman Secretary-General.

Sep 22, 2024
TAKE ACTION: Urge your government to support the call for a woman Secretary-General
Sep 22, 2024
TAKE ACTION: Urge your government to support the call for a woman Secretary-General
Sep 22, 2024

1 for 8 BIlion’s policy platform calls on all states to only consider nominating women candidates for UN Secretary-General. Use our template letter to adapt and send to your government to ask them to support this call.

Sep 22, 2024
1 for 8 Billion launches its 2024 Policy Platform
Sep 19, 2024
1 for 8 Billion launches its 2024 Policy Platform
Sep 19, 2024

Entitled “A fair and inclusive process to appoint the next UN Secretary-General”, the new platform sets out the campaign’s policy recommendations for the upcoming selection process including five policies Member States should adopt to ensure an inclusive process and a level playing field for candidates from all around the world

Sep 19, 2024
New report explains contingency for a Secretary-General leaving office early
Jul 1, 2024
New report explains contingency for a Secretary-General leaving office early
Jul 1, 2024

As part of an ongoing commitment by 1 for 8 Billion and its partners to increase knowledge and strengthen the robustness of the SG selection process, the United Nations Association - UK has published a detailed report looking at the scenario of an interruption to an SG’s tenure in office. 

Jul 1, 2024
It's your campaign - help us shape it!
Jun 6, 2024
It's your campaign - help us shape it!
Jun 6, 2024

As we gear up for another selection process we are going to put forward new and updated proposals - we'd like you to tell us what they should be! Please join this conversation and let us know how YOU think the world’s top diplomat should be chosen.

Jun 6, 2024
Sign up to the 1 for 8 Billion campaign
May 9, 2024
Sign up to the 1 for 8 Billion campaign
May 9, 2024

Join the 1 for 8 Billion campaign and get involved with our shared objective of a fair, open and inclusive Secretary-General selection process. Join the coalition as a member organisation, sign our woman SG letter, write to your government.

May 9, 2024
Introducing: 1 for 8 Billion’s new Steering Committee
Apr 30, 2024
Introducing: 1 for 8 Billion’s new Steering Committee
Apr 30, 2024

The 1 for 8 Billion campaign is delighted to introduce its new Steering Committee consisting of four internationally respected organisations with strong networks spanning UN regions: CIVICUS, Plataforma CIPÓ, Southern Voice and WomanSG.

Apr 30, 2024
Momentum growing for a woman Secretary-General
Mar 21, 2024
Momentum growing for a woman Secretary-General
Mar 21, 2024

1 for 8 Billion is coordinating a joint letter to all UN Permanent Representatives asking them to address the historic imbalance by announcing that their state will only consider nominating women candidates for the next Secretary-General selection process.

Mar 21, 2024
Resolution ushers in significant reforms despite missed opportunities
Sep 1, 2023
Resolution ushers in significant reforms despite missed opportunities
Sep 1, 2023

Today the UN General Assembly made significant progress on 1 for 8 Billion’s campaign to boost transparency and inclusivity in UN appointment processes. The resolution also consolidated previous reforms and good practices.

Sep 1, 2023
UNA-UK releases report highlighting 10 reforms to the SG selection process
Jun 15, 2023
UNA-UK releases report highlighting 10 reforms to the SG selection process
Jun 15, 2023

The report outlines 10 proposals based on improving transparency and inclusivity, addressing undue influence by Member States, and reducing the barriers to civil society participation in General Assembly processes. All proposals enjoy a degree of General Assembly support but need a concerted push to get them over the finish line. 

Jun 15, 2023
Negotiations kick off in the General Assembly - opportunity for further reform
May 11, 2023
Negotiations kick off in the General Assembly - opportunity for further reform
May 11, 2023

Negotiations kicked off this month on the biennial General Assembly resolution focusing on the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General and other executive heads. This opportunity to improve appointment processes at the UN must be seized. This article outlines a series of reform proposals which merit consideration in these negotiations.

May 11, 2023

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