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.
1 for 8 Billion launches its 2024 Policy Platform
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
New report explains contingency for a Secretary-General leaving office early
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Introducing: 1 for 8 Billion’s new Steering Committee
Momentum growing for a woman Secretary-General
Resolution ushers in significant reforms despite missed opportunities
UNA-UK releases report highlighting 10 reforms to the SG selection process
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.
Negotiations kick off in the General Assembly - opportunity for further reform
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.
Significant appetite for further reforms in the General Assembly
On 9 February 2023, states in the General Assembly expressed strong support for the reforms that transformed the SG selection process in 2016 while expressing a desire to further strengthen the process. Many states also expressed a desire to improve issues relating to the appointment of other executive heads.
Significant General Assembly resolution adopted incorporating 1 for 7 Billion priorities
1 for 7 Billion discusses its latest briefing with co-chairs of General Assembly negotiations
1 for 7 Billion urges states to grasp the opportunity for progress on outstanding issues
Secretary-General candidate António Guterres appears before the General Assembly
Update on civil society applicants for the role of UN Secretary-General
Today, the Forward initiative announced its own “candidate” to stand for the position of UN Secretary-General: Ecuadorian politician, Rosalía Arteaga Serrano. Forward is a civil society initiative that seeks to hold “progressive primaries to find a people-backed candidate to run for Secretary-General”.
Submit your questions to the candidate(s) for UN Secretary-General
The President of the General Assembly is inviting civil society organizations to submit questions, a selection of which will be put to Mr Guterres during his General Assembly hearing on 7 May. This meeting represents a rare opportunity to hold the UN Secretary-General to account - submit your question before 30 April!
States welcome consolidation of reforms and urge further progress
The debate showed full consensus for the consolidation and re-application of 2015-16 gains, which firmly establishes the practice that member states should be able to nominate a candidate even when an incumbent is standing for a second term, as has been the case this year (even if no member state chose to do so).
1 for 7 Billion releases discussion paper on unsettled elements of the 2021 selection process
There are various elements around the requirement for state backing and the recognition of official candidates that remain unsettled and for which 1 for 7 Billion urges further clarity. This short paper discusses these issues while also highlighting broader opportunities to build on the achievements of 2015/16.
