Six candidates vying to become the next United Nations Secretary-General have called for restoring the organisation's credibility, strengthening multilateralism and reforming the UN, during the first public town hall debate ahead of a decisive Security Council vote next week.
During the debate on 23 July the contenders for the UN's top post, largely agreed on the need to strengthen the organisation's role in conflict prevention, rebuild trust in multilateralism.
The debate focused on improving the effectiveness of the UN at a time of growing geopolitical tensions and financial challenges.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi argued that rhetoric alone was insufficient, calling for a "new deal" between the United Nations and its member states while stressing the need to address the root causes of conflicts.
Former Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan said the organisation's priority should be ensuring that people no longer ask, "Where is the UN?"
Michelle Bachelet, former Chilean President and past head of UN Women and the UN refugee agency, pledged to maintain the Secretary-General's independence, saying she would resist pressure from powerful states.
Former UN General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa focused on restoring the UN's ability to prevent conflicts and protect civilians.
Former Senegalese President Macky Sall highlighted reform of the international financial system and stronger global partnerships.
Guyana's Permanent Representative to the UN, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, emphasised the Secretary-General's neutrality and ability to influence through recommendations.
Five of the six candidates come from Latin America and the Caribbean, reflecting the widely held view among member states that it is the region's turn to lead the United Nations.
The race has also renewed calls for the organisation to appoint its first female Secretary-General in its more than 80-year history.
According to the summary, none of the candidates emerged as a clear frontrunner during the debate, although Grossi, Grynspan and Bachelet are regarded as the most frequently mentioned contenders.
The event itself was intended to raise public awareness of an election process that has so far attracted limited international attention.
The next stage of the selection process will take place behind closed doors, when the 15-member UN Security Council holds its first secret straw poll on 30 July.
The summary notes that while many member states believe the UN needs a politically influential and administratively effective leader to address mounting crises, some major powers may prefer a Secretary-General who is less likely to challenge their interests publicly.
The Security Council's recommendation will ultimately determine who succeeds the current UN chief.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrai...
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the ...
Indonesian rescuers are searching for 130 people after a passenger ship carrying 243 people sank in the Java Sea following bad weather, while 113 p...
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the weekend BRICS summit, amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, joining a host of foreign dignitaries.
Maritime trackers received new reports of an attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), adding to concerns about energy supplies after Saudi Arabia shut down a vital oil pipeline on Saturday.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrainian Railways said that the country's railways were facing systematic attacks for a second day and warned of widespread delays.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily shut down its 1,200-kilometre East-West oil pipeline after it was hit by a drone attack, with Riyadh and Baghdad saying the strike originated from Iraq.
Dubai’s property market has spent years climbing. Now, for the first time since 2021, prices are moving in the opposite direction.
A Kyiv-Warsaw train was struck near the Polish border, Ukraine's state railway firm said on Sunday. No passengers were injured. Ukrainian Railways said that the country's railways were facing systematic attacks for a second day and warned of widespread delays.
Indonesian rescuers are searching for 130 people after a passenger ship carrying 243 people sank in the Java Sea following bad weather, while 113 people have been evacuated and six have died, the country’s search and rescue agency said on Sunday.
China will lead the creation of an open source platform among BRICS members to promote cooperation on large language models, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sunday.
Swedes vote in an election on Sunday (13 September) that could see the far-right enter government for the first time if the country's right-wing parties can form a majority.
Philippine rescuers recovered 41 more charred remains from a ferry fire on Saturday (12 September), taking the death toll to 76, while 13 people remained unaccounted for as forensic teams worked to identify the victims.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment