1 for 8 Billion launches its new policy platform
1 for 8 Billion launches its new policy platform
Today world leaders gathered at UN headquarters to adopt the Pact for the Future. 1 for 8 Billion welcomes the Pact for the Future’s commitment to run a transparent, inclusive selection process and its support for a woman Secretary-General.
1 for 8 BIlion’s policy platform calls on all states to only consider nominating women candidates for UN Secretary-General. Use our template letter to adapt and send to your government to ask them to support this call.
Entitled “A fair and inclusive process to appoint the next UN Secretary-General”, the new platform sets out the campaign’s policy recommendations for the upcoming selection process including five policies Member States should adopt to ensure an inclusive process and a level playing field for candidates from all around the world
As we gear up for another selection process we are going to put forward new and updated proposals - we'd like you to tell us what they should be! Please join this conversation and let us know how YOU think the world’s top diplomat should be chosen.
Join the 1 for 8 Billion campaign and get involved with our shared objective of a fair, open and inclusive Secretary-General selection process. Join the coalition as a member organisation, sign our woman SG letter, write to your government.
The 1 for 8 Billion campaign is delighted to introduce its new Steering Committee consisting of four internationally respected organisations with strong networks spanning UN regions: CIVICUS, Plataforma CIPÓ, Southern Voice and WomanSG.
1 for 8 Billion is coordinating a joint letter to all UN Permanent Representatives asking them to address the historic imbalance by announcing that their state will only consider nominating women candidates for the next Secretary-General selection process.
Today the UN General Assembly made significant progress on 1 for 8 Billion’s campaign to boost transparency and inclusivity in UN appointment processes. The resolution also consolidated previous reforms and good practices.
The report outlines 10 proposals based on improving transparency and inclusivity, addressing undue influence by Member States, and reducing the barriers to civil society participation in General Assembly processes. All proposals enjoy a degree of General Assembly support but need a concerted push to get them over the finish line.
Negotiations kicked off this month on the biennial General Assembly resolution focusing on the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General and other executive heads. This opportunity to improve appointment processes at the UN must be seized. This article outlines a series of reform proposals which merit consideration in these negotiations.
On 9 February 2023, states in the General Assembly expressed strong support for the reforms that transformed the SG selection process in 2016 while expressing a desire to further strengthen the process. Many states also expressed a desire to improve issues relating to the appointment of other executive heads.
More than 750 organisations, 170 million supporters worldwide - all calling for a better process to select the UN Secretary-General
Assessments of the process and what needs to be done
1 for 7 Billion's 5 priorities for the selection process
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On Friday 20 September the campaign launched its policy platform. Natalie Samarasinghe moderated the discussion with H.E Maritza Chan-Valverde, Ambassador of Costa Rica to the UN, Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Susana Malcorra, President and Founder of GWL Voices, and Shamala Kandiah Thompson of Security Council Report.