Debate for UN Secretary-General Candidates Scheduled for 23 July

All candidates competing for the position of the next Secretary-General of the United Nations have been officially invited to participate in an open debate at the UN General Assembly Hall on 23 July. La Neice Collins, spokesperson for the President of the UN General Assembly, confirmed the schedule during a press briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday local time. Collins explained that UNGA President Annalena Baerbock had sent an official circular to all UN member states to inform them of the candidates’ participation in the vision and mission debate. “Additional information regarding the technical arrangements for the debate, including details on the event registration procedure, will be provided in due course,” Collins stated. The race for the top UN post currently features six strong candidates who have officially registered. Notably, the selection process is marked by significant gender representation, with four of the six candidates being prominent women from Latin America and the Caribbean. This selection process is underway as the current UN Secretary-General’s term is set to officially expire at the end of 2026. According to the established timeline, the newly elected UN Secretary-General is scheduled to begin their duties and take over the leadership baton starting from 1 January 2027.