Principles

The selection process for the UN Secretary-General should be fair, open and inclusive, based on the following principles:

  1. [FAIR] be focused on appointing the candidate best able to provide global leadership and increase the organisation's credibility and effectiveness

  2. [OPEN] be transparent to all states, civil society, the general public and media every step of the way

  3. [INCLUSIVE] be fully inclusive of all states in keeping with the General Assembly’s responsibilities assigned in the UN Charter, and open to appropriate input from civil society and the public

  4. [ACCESSIBLE] be grounded in best practices on equality and diversity, including through encouraging women and non-binary candidates from all regions and backgrounds

  5. [FEMINIST] be sensitive to the need to overcome patriarchal structures and eighty years of exclusive male ownership of this role

  6. [WELL STRUCTURED] be implemented in a timely, predictable manner with a clear timetable laid out in advance

  7. [PRINCIPLED] be free from the perception and the reality of undue influence and the trading of favours for support 

  8. [EQUITABLE] be forward-looking and assertive in reducing to the greatest possible extent the inherent biases and privileges within our global system and so giving the best possible candidate the best possible chance of success

These principles constitute the benchmark against which we will measure the integrity of the selection procedure and are guided by best practices in the selection of other top public leaders[1].

[1] Security Council Report. Appointment of the UN Secretary-General - Special Research Report. (May 2011)