COMMUNITY

With a new UN Secretary-General to be appointed in 2026, Member States face a decision that will shape the credibility and effectiveness of the multilateral system.

 

GQUAL, as part of the Steering Committee of the 1 for 8 Billion campaign, contributed to the development of a proposal that translates the role’s formal obligations into clear, operational requirements—and sets out practical guidelines for how candidates should be heard and assessed through a transparent, merit-based, and inclusive process.

The appointment of the Secretary-General is one of the most consequential decisions Member States make. It requires joint action by the Security Council and the General Assembly, and it defines whether the United Nations can lead with legitimacy at a time of rising conflict, deepening inequality, climate emergency, and mounting threats to the rule of law.

That is precisely why the selection process cannot rely on vague formulas or closed-door negotiations. If Member States have articulated general criteria and desired qualifications for the role, those standards must be applied in ways that are credible, comparable, and open to public scrutiny—so the process strengthens trust in the institution rather than eroding it.

This new briefing addresses a core gap in the Secretary-General selection process. For the first time, it consolidates three critical elements in a single framework:

• The formal requirements for the role, grounded in the UN Charter, General Assembly resolutions, and established UN practice
• A translation of those requirements into clear, operational criteria, so they can be meaningfully applied and assessed
• Concrete recommendations for structuring and evaluating candidates’ vision statements and hearings, including what should be asked, what evidence should be provided, and how performance should be assessed

Taken together, these components offer more than a statement of principles. They provide a practical tool for raising the quality of the process—helping candidates understand what is expected of them and helping Member States assess candidacies in a way that is consistent with the responsibilities of the office.

The briefing’s core message is straightforward: the UN cannot credibly defend human rights, uphold international law, or confront structural injustice without leadership that is selected through a process that reflects those same values. An effective Secretary-General must be chosen through a process that is transparent, merit-based, and inclusive, and that creates meaningful opportunities for civil society engagement and public accountability.

Read the full briefing here
https://lnkd.in/eh-_GH4m