New York , 17 February 2006 — Various efforts by civil society and governments are underway to improve the current selection process for the UN Secretary-General to address the current lack of accountability, transparency and inclusiveness and to ensure the selection of an effective and qualified leader. Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to the UN has taken the opportunity, as this month’s President of the Security Council, to initiate Council discussions on SG selection. Currently the three official candidates, nominated by their home governments, are the Thai Deputy Prime Minister, Surakiart Sathirathai, the South Korean Foreign Minister, Ban Ki-Moon, and the former UN Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament, Jayantha Dhanapala from Sri Lanka.

Please find below an overview of select initiatives and resources.

A. Civil Society Initiatives:

UNSG Selection Campaign - WFM-IGP has launched its UNSG Selection global civil society campaign, which is currently in the process of developing a list of candidate qualifications and suggested selection procedures for endorsement by NGOs worldwide. The campaign will then address an open letter to the Security Council requesting the Council to consider the proposed set of mechanisms to improve the selection process. The campaign seeks to draw from other international high-level selection procedures which have established more transparent, inclusive and accountable mechanisms to ensure the selection of qualified candidates.

Click here to access an overview of such procedures.

UNA-USA Task Force - UNA-USA has established atask force under the co-chairmanship of Thomas Pickering, former US Ambassador to the UN and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and Sir Brian Urquhart, former UN Under Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs. The Task force will identify ways to improve the selection process for the UN Secretary-General; identify priorities for the next Secretary-General; and clarify appropriate roles and responsibilities of the UNSG.

Click here for more information.

B. Government Initiatives:

The Canadian government has developed a Non-Paper on the Process for the Selection of the Next Secretary-General. This paper seeks to open discussion within the UN on improving the current selection process in order to address the current lack of transparency and inclusiveness. The paper pushes for the following:

• Creation of a search committee to identify potential candidates
• A transparent, inclusive and open consultation process that allows member states to assess the candidates’ experience, competence and leadership ability through, for example, informal GA sessions where member states can engage in a dialogue with candidates; public events where candidates can introduce themselves.
• Agreed criteria/qualifications: extensive experience in conduct of international relations; demonstrated commitment to objectives and purpose of the UN; proven leadership ability and managerial skill; strong communication skills.

Click here to download the Canadian Non-Paper on the Process for the Selection of the Next Secretary-General.

C. Additional Resources:

This month the Security Council Report has released a Special Research Report on the Appointment of a New Secretary-General. The report takes a closer look at various elements of the current selection process as well as the respective roles of the Deputy Secretary-General and the Secretary-General.

Click here to access this report.