secretary-general

Security Council Report releases debrief on the Secretary-General selection process

Security Council Report releases debrief on the Secretary-General selection process

Security Council Report has released its third and final Research Report on the recent Secretary-General selection process. The report provides a comprehensive account of developments in the Security Council and General Assembly from the beginning to the end of the proces

Priorities for the appointment of a new Secretary-General

Priorities for the appointment of a new Secretary-General

A few hours after the Security Council announced its decision to recommend António Guterres to be the next UN Secretary-General on 5 October, a 1 for 7 Billion delegation met the new President of the General Assembly, Peter Thomson.

Today: Secretary-General candidates to take part in first ever televised debate

Ten candidates vying for the position of UN Secretary-General will take part in the first ever televised debate on Tuesday 12 July, broadcast by Al Jazeera. Worldwide audiences will be given an unprecedented opportunity to watch the debate live, as candidates set out their visions for a stronger United Nations, capable of addressing the world's most pressing issues - from civil wars and terrorism, to climate change and forced migration.  

Open letter: UN staffers call for "the very best of candidates" to take UN top spot

Staff members of UN Departments, Funds, Programmes and Agencies have expressed their views on the type of Secretary-General that will help them continue to deliver the best possible implementation of the UN Charter and the mandates set by UN member states. The open letter below is available for signature by all UN staff members.

The next UN Secretary-General must stand up for human rights

The next UN Secretary-General must stand up for human rights

As Ban Ki-Moon prepares to step down this year, a group of six non-governmental organizations headed by Amnesty International has launched a human rights agenda for his successor.  

UN Debates Further Reform of the Secretary-General Selection Process

Last week, all Member States were invited to speak at a UN debate on the appointment of the next Secretary-General.  As the debate revealed, Member States are still committed to establishing the strongest possible selection process—and would adopt further reforms to make it happen.  

Historic letter to commence selection of next UN Secretary-General

1 for 7 Billion welcomes the ground-breaking joint letter to be sent by the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council on the appointment of the next UN Secretary-General in 2016. The letter marks – for the first time in the UN's history – the start of an official selection process for this crucial role.

High-level UN meeting pushes UNSG selection process forward

On Saturday 26 September, a host of countries, prominent individuals and civil society spoke up in favour not only of urgent action to implement landmark General Assembly Resolution 69/321, but also of striving for further improvements to the process to select the next UN Secretary-General.

General Assembly adopts historic resolution on improving Sec-Gen selection

1 for 7 Billion welcomes the landmark resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 11 September that provides an excellent basis for creating an open, transparent and merit-based process to select the UN Secretary-General. 

UK Government endorses 1 for 7 Billion proposals at House of Lords debate

The British Government has backed 1 for 7 Billion’s calls for a fairer, more inclusive process to select the next UN Secretary-General at a rare House of Lords debate on UN effectiveness. 

1 for 7 Billion launches interactive Map of Support

New research by the 1 for 7 Billion campaign shows that just three countries could block proposals supported by the vast majority of UN member states to improve the secretive and undemocratic process to select the UN Secretary-General.

1 for 7 Billion welcomes Security Council discussion on Secretary-General selection and calls for further action

Participants in the debate recognised the need for transparency in the selection process, that the General Assembly had an interest and role to play in meeting candidates, and that this was the opening of further discussions. 

President-elect of the General Assembly meets 1 for 7 Billion delegation

On 2 July, the newly elected President of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft from Denmark, and his team met three members of the campaign’s Steering Committee

Mary Robinson dubs selection process for UN chief as “morally inexcusable”

Former High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, painted the current UN Secretary-General selection process - the prerogative of just five countries – as “weak, opaque and, perhaps, even irrational”.

States call for change - 20-year stalemate could be broken

Monday’s UN General Assembly debate saw a near universal demand for transforming the way in which the UN appoints its next Secretary-General.

Top UN appointments should be based on merit, not power politics

The controversy surrounding the choice of a successor to Valerie Amos reinforces the principles of the 1 for 7 Billion campaign, which hold that merit, not nationality, should be the deciding factor when appointing senior UN officials.

New York Times covers 1 for 7 Billion campaign launch

Leading U.S. newspaper The New York Times published a comprehensive article covering the launch of the 1 for 7 Billion campaign.  The article makes a strong case for reform of the outdated system to appoint the UN's leader and draws attention to the letter that 1 for 7 Billion campaign partners have sent to world leaders demanding action.