President Thomson renewed the commitment President Lykketoft made to run his Presidency in the most open and transparent manner possible. This also applies to the process of selecting and appointing the next United Nations Secretary-General.
The position of Secretary-General is one of great importance that requires the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, and a firm commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The President of the General Assembly and of the Security Council invite candidates to be presented with proven leadership and managerial abilities, extensive experience in international relations, and strong diplomatic, communication and multilingual skills.
Member States are invited to present candidates in a letter to the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council.
The Presidents of the General Assembly and of the Security Council will jointly circulate to all Member States, on an ongoing basis, and publish on this webpage, the names of individuals that have been submitted for consideration.
More information
Selection procedure of next Secretary-General [15 Dec 2015]
Informal Dialogues and Civil Society Engagement with Candidates for next Secretary-General [25 Feb 2016]
The role of the Secretary-General
Appointment process & FAQ: Appointment process
Secretary General Selection – Informal Dialogues [29 Mar 2016]
Secretary-General Selection – Second round of Informal Dialogues [24 May 2016]
Consideration of candidacies for the position of next Secretary-General [15 June 2016]
Security Council Straw Polls on SG candidates [21 July 2016]
Letter from PGA to President of Security Council on SG-selection and appointment [13 September 2016]
10 Civil Society Questions for All Candidates
Videos on Selection Process for Next Secretary-General
Candidates
The letters submitted by Member States following the procedure laid out in the joint letter of 15 December 2015 for presenting candidates for the position of the next United Nations Secretary-General will be published below.
30 December 2015
Dr. Srgjan Kerim
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Official GA document A/70/672 – S/2015/1054
Vision Statement of Srgjan Kerim
Informal dialogue with Srgjan Kerim [14 April 2016]
14 January 2016 [Withdrawn]
Prof. Dr. sc. Vesna Pusić
Republic of Croatia
Official GA document A/70/687 – S/2016/40
Vision Statement of Vesna Pusić
Informal dialogue with Vesna Pusić [13 April 2016]
Withdrawal of candidature of Vesna Pusić [4 August 2016]
15 January 2016 [Withdrawn]
Dr. Igor Lukšić
Montenegro
Official GA document A/70/688 – S/2016/43
Vision Statement of Igor Lukšić
Informal dialogue with Igor Lukšić [12 April 2016]
Withdrawal of candidature of Igor Lukšić [23 August 2016]
9 February 2016
![Dr. Danilo Türk [Slovenia]](http://www.un.org/pga/70/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/01/561333-e1455124653957.jpg)
Dr. Danilo Türk
Slovenia
Official GA document A/70/731 – S/2016/128
Vision Statement of Danilo Türk
Informal dialogue with Danilo Türk [13 April 2016]
11 February 2016
![Ms. Irina Bokova [Bulgaria]](http://www.un.org/pga/70/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/01/80306605-e1455215368182.jpg)
Ms. Irina Bokova
Bulgaria
Official GA document: A/70/732 – S/2016/139
Vision Statement of Irina Bokova
Informal dialogue with Irina Bokova [12 April 2016]
19 February 2016
![Ms. Natalia Gherman [Moldova]](http://www.un.org/pga/70/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/01/gherman-e1460038731759.png)
Ms. Natalia Gherman
Republic of Moldova
Official GA document A/70/752 – S/2016/166
Vision Statement of Natalia Gherman
Informal dialogue with Natalia Gherman [13 April 2016]
29 February 2016
![Mr. António Guterres [Portugal]](http://www.un.org/pga/70/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/01/658433-e1456861880321.jpg)
Mr. António Guterres
Portugal
Official GA document A/70/768 – S/2016/206
Vision Statement of António Guterres
Informal dialogue with António Guterres [12 April 2016]
4 April 2016
![Ms. Helen Clark [New Zealand]](http://www.un.org/pga/70/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/01/Helen-Clark-headshot-e1460156274406.jpg)
Ms. Helen Clark
New Zealand
Official GA document: A/70/813 – S/2016/314
Vision Statement of Helen Clark
Informal dialogue with Helen Clark [14 April 2016]
12 April 2016
![Mr. Vuk Jeremić [Serbia]](http://www.un.org/pga/70/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/01/559639-e1460497675403.jpg)
Mr. Vuk Jeremić
Republic of Serbia
Official GA document: A/70/827 – S/2016/340
Vision Statement of Vuk Jeremić
Informal dialogue with Vuk Jeremić [14 April 2016]
23 May 2016
Ms. Susana Malcorra
Argentina
Official GA document: A/70/906 – S/2016/473
Vision Statement of Susana Malcorra
27 May 2016
Mr. Miroslav Lajčák
Slovak Republic
Official GA document: A/70/908 – S/2016/492
Vision Statement of Miroslav Lajčák
7 July 2016 [Withdrawn]
Ms. Christiana Figueres
Costa Rica
Official GA document: A/70/979 – S/2016/597
Vision Statement of Christiana Figueres
Withdrawal of candidature of Christiana Figuerres [13 September 2016]
As part of a more open, transparent and inclusive selection and appointment process, UN-NGLS is facilitating a call for questions from civil society that can be asked of UN Secretary-General candidates during UN General Assembly dialogues with the candidates. The first round of dialogues with 9 candidates took place 12 – 14 April 2016. The second round of dialogues with 2 additional candidates took place with new candidates on 7 June.
UN-NGLS will also convene a civil society Committee through an application process to review all questions submitted and create a short-list of 30 questions for the Office of the President of the General Assembly to select from for inclusion in the General Assembly dialogues.
Civil society is invited to contribute questions via Twitter or Instagram using #UNSGcandidates, or send them in via an online form using the link above. During the dialogues, civil society questions will be asked via video.
Additionally all candidates are asked to answer the same 10 selected civil society questions, which can be found here: 10 civil society questions for all candidates
View the videos of civil society asking each of these candidates questions below.
Civil society questions for first round of informal dialogues (12 - 14 April 2016)
Civil society questions asked to candidate Igor Lukšić of Montenegro
Mabelly Guerrero – Dominican Republic
Global Citizen
http://bit.ly/MabellyGuerreroSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Archie Lappin (9 years old) – Thailand
http://bit.ly/ArchieLappinSGQuestionSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Irina Bokova of Bulgaria
Cosette Maiky – Lebanon
Lebanese American University – Faculty
http://bit.ly/CosetteMaikySGcandidateQuestionVideo
Caitlin Reid – Canada
Canadian International Council & World Blind Union
http://bit.ly/CaitlinReidSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Katie Busby (12 years old) – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Her teacher Ms. Sarah Maile had her whole class of 11 & 12 year olds at Sandbach High School in the UK submit questions, and Katie’s was chosen!
http://bit.ly/KatieBusby-SandbachHighSchoolUK-UNSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate António Guterres of Portugal
Tracey Whare – Australia
Aotearoa Indigenous Rights Trust & Maoi Law Society
http://bit.ly/TraceyWhareSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Malick Lingani – Burkina Farso
BEOG NEERE (A Better Future)
http://bit.ly/MalickLinganiSGcandidatesQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Danilo Türk of Slovenia
Rahul Kumar – India
Green Dream Earth
http://bit.ly/RahulKumarSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Daniela Rangel – Mexico
Gender Equity; Women’s Major Group
http://bit.ly/DanielaRangelSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Vesna Pusić of Republic of Croatia
Leonardo Buzzi (13 years old) – Brazil
Class project led by Cleiton Baldo (teacher)
Colégio Dom Bosco, Rio do Sul, Santa Catarina
http://bit.ly/LeonardoBuzziSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Sabin Muzaffar – United Arab Emirates
UN Women’s Empower Women Global Champion for Women Economic Empowerment & Ananke
http://bit.ly/SabinMuzaffarSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Celine Paramunda – India/United States
Medical Mission Sisters
http://bit.ly/CelineParamundaSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Natalia Gherman of Republic of Moldova
Angelique Pouponneau – Seychelles
Commonwealth Youth Council
http://bit.ly/AngeliquePouponneauSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Harriet Ngendanabo – Uganda
Sightsavers
http://bit.ly/HarrietNgendanaboSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Vuk Jeremić of Republic of Serbia
Jane Alver – Australia
WYCA Australia & Center for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at University of Canberra
http://bit.ly/JaneAlverSGcandidatesQuestionVideo
Jill Christianson – United States
National Education Association & Education International
http://bit.ly/JillChristiansonSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Helen Clark of New Zealand
Wardarina – Indonesia
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
http://bit.ly/WardarinaSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Alice Thomas – United States
Refugees International
http://bit.ly/AliceThomasSGcandidatesQuestionVideo
Dr. Dalem Chandra Barman – Bangladesh
ASA University Bangladesh
http://bit.ly/DalemChandraBarmanSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Srgjan Kerim of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Lakpa Nuri Sherpa – Nepal
Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact
http://bit.ly/LakpaNuriSherpaSGcandidateQuestionVideo
H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma – Burkina Faso
Abze Solar
http://bit.ly/PrincessAbzeDjigmaSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Letícia Meyer (14 years old) – Brazil
Class project led by teacher Cleiton Baldo
Colégio Dom Bosco, Rio do Sul
http://bit.ly/LeticiaMeyerSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions for second round of informal dialogues (7 June 2016)
Civil society questions asked to candidate Susana Malcorra of Argentina
Joanna Manganara – Greece
International Alliance of Women
http://bit.ly/JoannaManganaraSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Lidija Vuckovic – Serbia
Center for Human Rights
http://bit.ly/LidijaVuckovicSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Ilya Bañares – Philippines / China
Student
http://bit.ly/IlyaBanaresSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Miroslav Lajčak of Slovenia
Netsai Mushonga – Zimbabwe
http://bit.ly/NetsaiMushongaSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Dusan Jasovsky – Sweden
ReAct, Action on Antibiotic Resistance
http://bit.ly/DusanJasovskySGcandidateQuestionVideo
Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls – Fiji
FemLink Pacific
http://bit.ly/SharonBhagwan-RollsSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil Society Committee Members
Civil Society Committee Members
Joannes Paulus Yimbesalu – A World at School – Cameroon
Kate Lappin – Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) – Australia
Kashmiri Stec – AYUDH – Poland
Parsu Ram Rai – Blue Diamond Society – Nepal
Sabine Saliba – Child Rights International Network – Lebanon
Olumide Idowu – Climate Wednesday – Nigeria
Melina Lito – Equality Now – Albania
Volker Lehmann – Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung – NY / Germany
Leonardo Párraga – Fundación BogotArt – Colombia
Mohammad Hassan Mashori – Fundamental Human Rights & Rural Development Association FHRRDA – Pakistan
Peter van Tuijl – Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) Netherlands
Mark Ross – Global Youth Movement – Guyana – Guyana
Angela Muthama – Human Rights and Information Forum – Kenya
Ben Homer – Innovation & Planning Agency – Austria / USA
Sandra Creamer – International Indigenous Womens Forum – Australia
Eleanor Openshaw – International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) – UK
Pefi Kingi – PACIFICWIN – New Zealand
Federica D’Alessandra – Public International Law & Policy Group Italy
Hugh Dugan – Seton Hall University, School of Diplomacy, Center for UN and Global Governance Studies – USA
Kirthi Jayakumar – The Red Elephant Foundation – India
Eleanor Blomstrom – Women’s Environment and Development Organization – USA INGO
Ritah Muyambo – World YWCA – Zimbabwe
All videos on next Secretary-General selection process:
Videos: Next Secretary-General
Civil society questions for first round of informal dialogues (12 - 14 April 2016)
Civil society questions asked to candidate Igor Lukšić of Montenegro
Mabelly Guerrero – Dominican Republic
Global Citizen
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzk9DXnJ0hI?list=PL6my54kL4fLIa4TjqvsHtCx9m8NOwJDYm&w=560&h=315]
Archie Lappin (9 years old) – Thailand
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqBk-BH__vY&w=560&h=315]
Civil society questions asked to candidate Irina Bokova of Bulgaria
Cosette Maiky – Lebanon
Lebanese American University – Faculty
http://bit.ly/CosetteMaikySGcandidateQuestionVideo
Caitlin Reid – Canada
Canadian International Council & World Blind Union
http://bit.ly/CaitlinReidSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Katie Busby (12 years old) – United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Her teacher Ms. Sarah Maile had her whole class of 11 & 12 year olds at Sandbach High School in the UK submit questions, and Katie’s was chosen!
http://bit.ly/KatieBusby-SandbachHighSchoolUK-UNSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate António Guterres of Portugal
Tracey Whare – Australia
Aotearoa Indigenous Rights Trust & Maoi Law Society
http://bit.ly/TraceyWhareSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Malick Lingani – Burkina Farso
BEOG NEERE (A Better Future)
http://bit.ly/MalickLinganiSGcandidatesQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Danilo Türk of Slovenia
Rahul Kumar – India
Green Dream Earth
http://bit.ly/RahulKumarSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Daniela Rangel – Mexico
Gender Equity; Women’s Major Group
http://bit.ly/DanielaRangelSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Vesna Pusić of Republic of Croatia
Leonardo Buzzi (13 years old) – Brazil
Class project led by Cleiton Baldo (teacher)
Colégio Dom Bosco, Rio do Sul, Santa Catarina
http://bit.ly/LeonardoBuzziSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Sabin Muzaffar – United Arab Emirates
UN Women’s Empower Women Global Champion for Women Economic Empowerment & Ananke
http://bit.ly/SabinMuzaffarSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Celine Paramunda – India/United States
Medical Mission Sisters
http://bit.ly/CelineParamundaSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Natalia Gherman of Republic of Moldova
Angelique Pouponneau – Seychelles
Commonwealth Youth Council
http://bit.ly/AngeliquePouponneauSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Harriet Ngendanabo – Uganda
Sightsavers
http://bit.ly/HarrietNgendanaboSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Vuk Jeremić of Republic of Serbia
Jane Alver – Australia
WYCA Australia & Center for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at University of Canberra
http://bit.ly/JaneAlverSGcandidatesQuestionVideo
Jill Christianson – United States
National Education Association & Education International
http://bit.ly/JillChristiansonSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Helen Clark of New Zealand
Wardarina – Indonesia
Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development
http://bit.ly/WardarinaSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Alice Thomas – United States
Refugees International
http://bit.ly/AliceThomasSGcandidatesQuestionVideo
Dr. Dalem Chandra Barman – Bangladesh
ASA University Bangladesh
http://bit.ly/DalemChandraBarmanSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Civil society questions asked to candidate Srgjan Kerim of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Lakpa Nuri Sherpa – Nepal
Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact
http://bit.ly/LakpaNuriSherpaSGcandidateQuestionVideo
H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma – Burkina Faso
Abze Solar
http://bit.ly/PrincessAbzeDjigmaSGcandidateQuestionVideo
Letícia Meyer (14 years old) – Brazil
Class project led by teacher Cleiton Baldo
Colégio Dom Bosco, Rio do Sul
http://bit.ly/LeticiaMeyerSGcandidateQuestionVideo
First group – Leading the United Nations: A Global Townhall with UN Secretary-General candidates
[brightcove videoID=5033028157001 playerID=1722935254001 height=270 width=480]
Second group – Leading the United Nations: A Global Townhall with UN Secretary-General candidates
[brightcove videoID=5033043853001 playerID=1722935254001 height=270 width=480]
All photos of Global Townhall Event