UN headquarters in New York. The UN has launched the process of selecting candidates for the post of Secretary General UN
On Tuesday, the President of the UN General Assembly and the President of the Security Council – the two main organs of the United Nations – officially launched the process of selecting candidates for the post of Secretary General by sending a corresponding letter to member countries. Let us recall that the powers of the current head of the UN expire at the end of 2026.
The authors of the letter invite member states to nominate their candidates for the post of Secretary General. It is noted that the person holding this important position must meet the highest standards of efficiency and competence, as well as demonstrate commitment to the principles of the UN Charter.
The candidate must have leadership qualities and professional skills in the field of diplomacy, communications, know several languages and have extensive experience in the field of international relations.
The authors of the message also regret note that the post of UN Secretary General has never been occupied by a woman, and urge member countries of the Organization to seriously think about nominating a woman as a candidate. “We also emphasize the importance of the regional dimension in the selection of the Secretary-General,” the letter reads.
A candidate may be nominated by a country or group of countries, but each state has the right to nominate one person.
Candidates, according to the procedure approved by the General Assembly, are required to submit a vision statement upon nomination, which will published on a special United Nations web page, and also disclose funding sources. The President of the General Assembly will hold an interactive dialogue via webcast with each candidate.
The Secretary-General, according to the UN Charter, is appointed by the UN General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.