Source: UN News: Friday, 24 April 2026 00:01 AM
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, as she opens the selection process for the next Secretary-General, has stressed that this moment is also an opportunity to draw attention to a truth that cannot be ignored. This means that half of the world’s population are women and girls, but this truth is rarely visible in global leadership. He said that the decision to select the next Secretary-General is not just a matter of implementing Sustainable Development Goal 5, i.e. gender equality. It is also a question of the credibility of an institution that promises equal rights. “Moments like these allow us to pause, reflect, and imagine what leadership should be like if it truly reflected the world it was meant to serve. A world where men and women lead equally. A world where transparency is not just a promise, but a practice.” Annalena Baerbock said that in her 80 years, she has been President of the General Assembly. She is only the fifth woman to serve as such. At present, only 22 percent of the positions of permanent representatives in the General Assembly are women. and so far United Nations Secretary General “Who we elect will send a strong message about who we are, and whether we truly serve all the people of the world, when half the world’s population are women and girls.” She said, “The idea of “better together” only makes sense when we make it a reality, who we listen to, who we choose as symbols of progress, and who we trust to show the way forward.” “The next Secretary-General will be the voice of all countries and all people. This choice will not only be a reflection of today’s world, but will also determine the direction of the future that we will create together, better together.” UN News Inevitability of the existence of the United Nations: The President of the General Assembly said that this important process is taking place at a time when the world is facing unprecedented challenges. These include rising geopolitical tensions, the deepening climate crisis, and rapid advances in digital technologies that are changing the way we work, communicate and live as societies. Annalena Baerbock said the world needs the United Nations today perhaps more than ever, but the multilateral mechanisms designed to deal with these borderless challenges are under immense pressure. The United Nations, too, needs the world to celebrate its 80th anniversary, because when more voices are heard and more perspectives are included, both the legitimacy and effectiveness of the world organization’s work is strengthened. This sentiment is also reflected in the theme chosen for this session: Better Together. Against this backdrop, the Secretary-General selection process for 2025–2026 is not just a formal milestone. This is an important moment for introspection and a time to reaffirm our commitment to the core principles that bind us together. So what should the leadership look like to lead the United Nations into the future beyond its 80th year? Three Core Pillars The General Assembly President said the world is looking to the next Secretary-General, who is expected to provide strong and dedicated leadership to advance the three core pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, human rights and development. Will do. At the same time, they are also expected to adapt the United Nations to today’s realities and tomorrow’s challenges. By including civil society, the United Nations is signaling that the future of multilateralism depends not on closed-door discussions, but on broad participation. This is an opportunity to listen, to question, and to deepen trust in the United Nations, at a time when trust is both fragile and vital. The purpose of laying out this process simply and clearly, with a warm and modern perspective, is to inspire both ordinary citizens and future diplomats to understand, support, speak up for, and pass on the work of the United Nations to the next generation. Four candidates in the running for the next Secretary-General Detailed statements from the four candidates can be seen here…Michelle Bachelet (Chile)rafael grossi (Argentina)Rebecca Grinspan (Costa Rica)macky saul (Senegal)