At a public event in London, all participating candidates were asked whether they would commit to the Principles for Integrity. Three of the candidates responded yes: Michelle Bachelet, María Fernanda Espinosa, and Rebeca Grynspan. 

During a recent civil society event in London, Secretary-General candidate Michelle Bachelet made news by announcing her support for the next Secretary-General to serve only one term in office. 

1 for 8 Billion Global South campaign partners have published comparative research analysing the institutional and systemic conditions facing the next UN Secretary-General selection. 

Antigua and Barbuda has nominated Ms. Espinosa of Ecuador as a candidate to be the next UN Secretary-General.

A useful route for a member state to indicate support for a candidate is by adding its backing as a ‘co-nominator’ for their preferred candidate. This option has the advantage over straw polls in that it could be led organically by member states and would be formally recorded on the candidate page of the UN’s website.

Following last month’s candidate hearings in the General Assembly, and ahead of the Security Council’s deliberations on candidates expected to begin in July, there is a window of opportunity for the General Assembly to express its views on candidates. This explainer outlines three options.

1 for 8 Billion is at the UN to follow the interactive dialogues with Secretary-General candidates, where they are facing questions from member states and civil society. Read our key takeaways from each session.

1 for 8 Billion partners with 14 leading NGOs to analyze candidates’ policy positions on core UN challenges.

1 for 8 Billion asks all candidates to uphold five commitments during their SG campaigns.