1 for 8 Billion news
UN Secretary-General-designate, António Guterres, has backed 1 for 7 Billion’s calls for strong civil society engagement with the United Nations at an informal meeting of the General Assembly.UN Secretary-General-designate, António Guterres, has backed 1 for 7 Billion’s calls for strong civil society engagement with the United Nations at an informal meeting of the General Assembly.
On 19 October, Secretary-General-designate António Guterres, "in listening mode," met with the UN General Assembly during an informal meeting of the plenary in preparation for his assumption of office. William Pace of the World Federalist Movement - Institute for Global Policy presented the following statement on behalf of the 1 for 7 Billion campaign.
On 13 October, the General Assembly appointed António Guterres as the next UN Secretary-General by acclamation.Every speaker - including the President of the General Assembly, the current Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and representatives of all five UN regions - praised this year’s selection process as the most transparent, principled and merit-based appointment of the UN Secretary-General in the 70-year history of the United Nations.
António Guterres has been announced as the “clear favourite” for Secretary-General by the UN Security Council, according to Council President Vitaly Churkin. It is expected that a resolution to recommend Mr Guterres for the post will be agreed on by acclamation in the Security Council tomorrow at 10am EST.
In a letter released yesterday, 1 for 7 Billion called on P5 members to identify themselves during a formal ballot should their negative vote prevent an otherwise successful candidate for the position of UN Secretary-General receiving the minimum number of nine positive votes - the threshold necessary for endorsement as the Security Council’s preferred choice.
On Tuesday 3 October, Bulgaria's candidate for UN Secretary-General, Kristalina Georgieva, took part in an "informal dialogue" with the UN General Assembly. Having spearheaded a more open, inclusive process, the 1 for 7 Billion campaign welcomes Ms Georgieva's engagement with the wider UN membership - an unprecedented addition to this year's selection process.
The UN Security Council held its fourth round of straw polls on 9 September to determine which candidate it will put forward to replace Ban Ki-moon as the next Secretary-General.
This latest round saw the former Prime Minister of Portugal and former head of the UN Refugee Agency, Antόnio Guterres, maintain his lead for the fourth time running.
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.
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.
