Thursday 14 April: live from the General Assembly, New York
Commentary picking up on statements pertinent to 1 for 7 Billion's campaign proposals from Helen Clark's informal dialogue at the General Assembly and from the media stakeout afterwards.
Vuk Jeremić - live commentary from the General Assembly hearing
Natalia Gherman - live commentary from the General Assembly hearing
Vesna Pusić - live commentary from the General Assembly hearing
Danilo Türk - live commentary from the General Assembly hearing
António Guterres - live commentary from the General Assembly hearing
Irina Bokova - live commentary from the General Assembly hearing
Igor Lukšić - live commentary from General Assembly hearing
As UNGA meetings begin, candidates must display courage, integrity and commitment to transparency
1 for 7 Billion welcomes the meetings with UN Secretary-General candidates to be held in the General Assembly on 12-14 April. For the first time in the UN’s history, all UN member states will have the opportunity to engage with candidates through a structured process, taking forward the historic Resolution 69/321 adopted by the General Assembly last year.
Your chance to interact with UN Secretary-General candidates
UN Debates Further Reform of the Secretary-General Selection Process
Majority of states support discussion of single term, multiple candidates proposals
1 for 7 Billion has launched two new documents showing where every UN Member State stands on two urgent proposals for reform: the appointment of the Secretary-General for a single, non-renewable term of between five and ten years, and the recommendation of multiple candidates by the Security Council to the General Assembly.
1 for 7 Billion urges action at upcoming UN debate
This week, the 1 for 7 Billion campaign sent a letter to all UN Member States urging them to consider specific reforms to further improve the selection process before the next Secretary-General is appointed at the end of the year. The letter comes ahead of a thematic debate on the selection and appointment of the UN Secretary-General, to take place at the UN’s New York headquarters on 22 March
The public wants a UN leader with "the courage to stand up to powerful countries"
In September 2015, 1 for 7 Billion launched a public poll to generate discussion on the role of the UN Secretary-General. The poll asked questions about the issues the next Secretary-General should prioritise and the qualities she or he should possess to be an effective leader of the United Nations.
1 for 7 Billion calls on the public and civil society to submit questions to candidates
1 for 7 Billion asks all candidates to commit publicly to serving a single term of office
1 for 7 Billion makes the case for the Secretary-General to stand for a single term
The 1 for 7 Billion campaign has published a statement setting out the arguments for the UN Secretary-General to stand for a single, non-renewable term of office. The paper has been released ahead of a General Assembly debate on this proposal on 29 February.
The first Sec-Gen was elected, not appointed
70 years ago today, Trygve Lie became the first UN Secretary-General. Following his recommendation by the Security Council, the General Assembly held a secret ballot, which saw Lie, a former Norwegian foreign minister, elected with 46 votes to 3 and two abstentions (the video below shows the voting).
Leading UN experts call for "courageous" UN leader to serve single term of office
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.