Source: NDTV
Subject: International Relations
Context: The UN has formally begun the process to elect the next Secretary-General to replace Antonio Guterres when his term ends on 31 December 2026.
- Member states have been invited to submit nominations, with a strong push for selecting the first woman Secretary-General in UN history.
About United Nations Secretary-General:
What the UN Secretary-General is?
- The Secretary-General (SG) is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations, as defined under Article 97 of the UN Charter.
- Often described as “equal parts diplomat, advocate, civil servant and CEO”, the SG represents the UN globally and serves as its moral voice.
Legal Basis (Governed By):
- Article 97, UN Charter – SG appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.
- Traditional practices such as regional rotation, though not formally binding.
The Selection Procedure Works:
- Nominations Begin:
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- Member states nominate candidates after a joint letter from the UNSC President and UNGA President.
- Increasing emphasis on gender balance and regional diversity.
- Security Council Screening:
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- The 15-member UN Security Council conducts a series of straw polls (secret ballots).
- Each member marks a candidate as “encourage”, “discourage”, or “no opinion”.
- The five permanent members (P5 — US, UK, China, Russia, France) have veto power and their ballots are colour-coded.
- Security Council Recommendation:
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- A candidate requires 9 votes and no veto.
- A formal UNSC resolution recommends one name to the General Assembly.
- General Assembly Appointment: The 193-member UNGA votes (usually a formality) to appoint the candidate as the next Secretary-General.
- Term: 5-year term, renewable (usually once and Guterres is serving his second).
Functions of the Secretary-General:
- Administrative & Executive Roles: Heads the UN Secretariat, supervising over 30,000 staff and managing a core budget (~USD 3.7 billion) and the peacekeeping budget (~USD 5.6 billion).
- Diplomatic & Mediation Role:
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- Acts as a global mediator, using “good offices” to prevent or resolve conflicts.
- Appeals to the world community on humanitarian crises, climate, peace and security.
- Agenda-Setting Role:
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- Brings issues before the Security Council that threaten international peace (Article 99).
- Launches global initiatives on development, climate action, human rights, gender equality, and humanitarian relief.
- Symbolic & Advocacy Role: Promotes multilateralism, peace, human rights and sustainable development.
