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LIVE: UN hosts townhall with secretary-general candidates

UN townhall with six candidates for Secretary-General discussing global challenges and visions for the UN's future.

Ask about this video. Answers come from its transcript only — with the timestamp, so you can check them.

Generated from the transcript and can be wrong — check the timestamp.

Key Takeaways

  • The next UN Secretary-General must navigate complex global challenges with diplomacy and reform.
  • Leadership experience and proven reform capabilities are critical qualifications for candidates.
  • Restoring trust and unity among member states is essential for the UN's effectiveness.
  • Addressing emerging issues like AI and climate change is a priority for the future UN agenda.
  • Multilateralism remains vital despite current skepticism about the UN's impact.

What the video covers

  • The UN townhall features six candidates for the next Secretary-General presenting their visions and priorities.
  • The discussion covers the UN's role in peace, security, sustainable development, human rights, and humanitarian aid.
  • Candidates emphasize the need for reform, diplomacy, and unity among 193 member states amid global crises.
  • Michelle Bachelet highlights her leadership experience, managerial skills, and commitment to reform and gender equality.
  • Maria Fernanda Espinosa stresses her experience as General Assembly President and Minister of Defense with a reform record.
  • Rafael Mariano Grossi focuses on multilateralism, nuclear safety, and the UN's role in conflict resolution.
  • The townhall includes moderated Q&A with member state delegates, NGOs, and UN staff participation.
  • Key global challenges discussed include climate change, AI, pandemics, migration, and economic fragmentation.
  • Candidates address issues like Security Council paralysis, trust in the UN, and the need for institutional credibility.
  • The event aims to provide transparency and insight into each candidate's approach to leading the UN.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and UN Mission Overview
  2. 05:55Maria Fernanda Espinosa's Opening Statement
  3. 12:26Rafael Mariano Grossi's Opening Statement
  4. 17:41Townhall Format and Candidate Responses
  5. 23:54Security Council Challenges and Effectiveness
  6. 36:47UN Credibility and Role in Conflict Resolution
  7. 42:52Global Challenges: AI, Climate, and Pandemics
  8. 54:01Closing Remarks and Vision for the UN's Future

Answers

Questions about this video

Who are the candidates participating in the UN Secretary-General townhall?

The candidates are Michelle Bachelet, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Rebecca Greenspan, Carolyn Rodriguez Burquette, and Mackisol.

What are the main challenges discussed for the next UN Secretary-General?

Key challenges include global conflicts, climate change, artificial intelligence, pandemics, migration, economic fragmentation, and restoring trust in the UN.

How does the townhall format ensure fairness among candidates?

Each candidate has equal time to speak, with timed responses, translation for non-English answers, and moderators ensuring questions are answered fairly.

Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown

00:00
Speaker A
The intensifying and divisive competition for global influence amongst the world's major powers. Yet, the UN's mission extends beyond responding to crisis. Every day, it works to promote peace and security, advance sustainable development, defend human rights, and deliver humanitarian assistance to millions of people around the world. The next secretary general will take office at a moment when global challenges are becoming more interconnected, even as international cooperation is becoming more difficult.
00:19
Speaker A
The Secretary General commands no armies. It writes no laws. The office depends on diplomacy, persuasion, and the ability to bring together 193 member states to find common ground on the world's most pressing challenges. You will hear directly from six candidates
00:32
Speaker A
seeking to become the next Secretary General of the United Nations. They will share their vision for leading one of the world's most historic institutions into a future of profound change.
00:50
Speaker A
Please welcome the candidates: Michelle Bachelet, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Rebecca Greenspan, Carolyn Rodriguez, Burquette, Mackisol. Welcome to all the candidates.
01:03
Speaker A
Before we get started, here's how tonight's town hall will work. Over the next 90 minutes, we'll discuss a range of issues facing the United Nations and the international community. Each of our candidates will have the same opportunity to address the audience and to respond
01:35
Speaker A
to questions. The town hall will include opening statements from each candidate followed by questions from Bloomberg. We will also take queries from the audience, which includes delegates from member states, representatives from non-governmental organizations, as well as UN staff members. Now to ensure
02:07
Speaker A
fairness, speaking will be done in a way that is actually tracked for each candidate. All of the answers will be in English. However, for candidate Mackisol, the answers will be in French, and you will hear a translator.
02:24
Speaker A
The candidates can see a clock to let them know how much time they have for their answer. A yellow light will signal when they have 15 seconds left, and a red light will signal when time has expired.
02:38
Speaker A
After that, we'll ask the candidate to wrap up. And if they do not wrap up quickly, unfortunately, the microphone will be cut off. If we, the moderators, judge that a candidate did not answer the question, we reserve the right to
02:51
Speaker A
follow up. Our goal tonight is straightforward: give each candidate the opportunity to share their priorities and vision for the future of the United Nations.
03:05
Speaker A
Now, with that said, let's begin with our opening statements. We asked each candidate in advance what makes you the best person to be Secretary General for this section. You each have two minutes for your statement, and we'll begin at
03:15
Speaker A
the end of the podium with Michelle Bachelet. Thank you. I want to thank the PGA for organizing the debate, and I welcome all the other participants. I believe strongly that the UN is the most remarkable achievement of diplomacy
03:29
Speaker A
in history. Its service to our peoples in all the three key pillars has been, I would say, crucial and completely irreplaceable. Of course, it has shortcomings, and the current crisis doesn't make it less relevant and less
03:44
Speaker A
needed. And the key task for the next secretary general will be to defend, preserve, and improve the organization, including through continued reforms in order to ensure that the UN delivers ever more and better. And I do that in very
03:59
Speaker A
challenging times. We're living in times with armed conflict at a historic high, where civilians are killed or injured in tragic numbers. Inequality is rising, the climate crisis is ever more urgent, and human rights are disregarded. Amidst all, there's lack of trust in
04:14
Speaker A
institutions. So in such a challenging environment, what the world needs is a secretary general with the best possible credentials. First, I think I have those. First, I'm a tested leader with extensive political experience. I am also twice president of the republic. In my
04:33
Speaker A
country, president of the republic is president, is head of state, but also head of government. I proved I can lead complex negotiations and make difficult choices while finding democratic, I would say, compromises and building trust and bridges among world leaders. Second,
04:49
Speaker A
I have managerial skills. I was twice minister of health and defense and twice principal of UN entities. In all cases, I demonstrated that I have the vision, the courage, and the ability to enact change, not only specific reforms
05:07
Speaker A
but also continued reforms to continue improving the institutions. Third, I combine firm attachment to principles and a focus on solutions, values, and realism. I will be impartial to the charter only. And lastly, I think it's time for women on the helm, and I duly
05:24
Speaker A
care for the planet and humanity. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madame President. Now to Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Ecuador.
05:42
Speaker A
Good afternoon. I think there are three reasons why I believe I am the right person to serve as the secretary general of the United Nations. Number one, because I have led this house. You elected me as president of the General
05:55
Speaker A
Assembly. And in that role, I work with every member state. I listen to every voice. I build consensus even in the most difficult times. I spent Christmas and weekends sitting in negotiation rooms. I know how this institution works, the potential it has, and the
06:14
Speaker A
challenges. Number two, I am a reformer with a proven record as Minister of Defense. I have one of the largest and more complex institutions with a staff and budget size very similar to the one of the United
06:36
Speaker A
Nations. I reformed the armed forces. Reform was not a slogan. It led to true modernization of the institution. It strengthened its accountability, its effectiveness, its impact, and in order for the armed forces to
06:56
Speaker A
address the new threats to peace and security in the country, from organized crime to cybersecurity. So what I did is I introduced a new business model for the armed forces. So I had the courage to transform, and number three, I bring a
07:17
Speaker A
truly 360-degree understanding of the organization. Because of my own professional pathway, I was able to understand every corner of the very complex UN agenda, from the peace and security architecture to development and human rights. So I know very well what is the
07:34
Speaker A
great potential of this organization, what are the obstacles, and I'm ready. I'm ready to face those. I think the United Nations needs a secretary general who can unite member states, deliver reform credibly, and restore confidence in the institution. And of course, I am
07:58
Speaker A
prepared to make that contribution to the organization. Thank you. Thank you, Minister Espinosa. Next, we go to Rafael Mariano, Argentina.
08:16
Speaker A
Thank you very much. Good evening, everybody. The coming selection of the next secretary general could arguably be one of the most consequential in the eight years of history of this great institution. Sorry, the fact that we are living in a
08:29
Speaker A
world where conflicts abound, where we are registering the highest number of armed conflicts in the past 40 years, inequalities, these problems in every single pillar as we know them for the work of the organization.
08:51
Speaker A
And that converges with a moment where profound doubts and skepticism about the ability of the United Nations to address and to address effectively any of these problems. We see, and it's hard to see, that the UN is absent from
09:10
Speaker A
the resolution of the most serious conflicts that we are going through. And we also see that we are not performing at the level we should be in other areas. But multilateralism can deliver.
09:35
Speaker A
And I say this because I live it, and I live it every day. I live it through the work of an organization dealing with one of the most dangerous, sensitive, and gravest of areas in international life, nuclear weapons,
09:51
Speaker A
nuclear safety. And we, through the IAEA, have been able to act and to act effectively in theaters of war to talk to leaders.
10:12
Speaker A
nuclear safety. And we through the IEA have been able to act and to act effectively in theaters of war to talk to leader to leaders who are fighting with each other and be accepted as an interlocular. This is what the UN must
10:33
Speaker A
recover. This is what is at stake now. Thank you, Director General. Now to Rebecca Greenspan, Costa Rica.
10:48
Speaker A
Madame President, excellencies, dear candidates, I am running because what we do here in this hall matters for people struggling to be free from want, from illness, and from fear. Because we, nations large and small, can uphold the charter as our
11:10
Speaker A
anchor in a turbulent world. Because we see drones cross boundaries that troops never did. Because we see the price of bread rise due to conflict far away. And because people are losing trust in the capacity of this organization to deliver
11:28
Speaker A
peace in a more dangerous, more complex world. I am running to give them real solutions and honest answers.
11:37
Speaker A
Excellencies, it is for the Security Council and member states to decide who is the best person to lead this task.
11:44
Speaker A
But here is what I bring. I bring integrity impartiality and transparency. I've led organizations in and out the UN. In each, I've built coalitions and consensus for action. I talk and listen to everyone. I close no doors, serve no interest but the
12:03
Speaker A
charter. I lead through influence, not rhetoric. I bring proven leadership under pressure. I let crisis work in Afghanistan, Somalia, Haiti. I negotiated my country's debt. I broker deals that open seaways in the middle of war. And now I
12:26
Speaker A
have the trust and earn the trust and I know how easy is to lost it. I bring a record of reform in large organizations of balancing budget leaving them more efficient more focused and more impactful and of doing it by inspiring
12:44
Speaker A
staff and keeping members state close. Excellencies, the times are too difficult and too high the stakes for us to be complacent and waste our potential. What we do here for peace, for human dignity, for development can change the lives of people and the fate
13:05
Speaker A
of nations. I am ready to walk that path with you. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Next we go to Caroline Rodriguez Burrat Guyana.
13:21
Speaker A
Thank you Roma and thank you president of the general assembly for organizing this debate and good evening everyone.
13:28
Speaker A
The United Nations over these last eight decades has served humanity well. But it is now at a crossroads. the proliferation of conflicts, lack of implementation of the sustainable development goals, a liquidity crisis, and an increase in humanitarian needs.
13:46
Speaker A
Reform to make this organization more efficient, more effective, and more agile is now an imperative. But it is in times of challenges that opportunities emerge. And it's also for a moment like this that you need a secretary general
14:03
Speaker A
that is practical, who is realistic, and who is pragmatic. Over the 30 years of my career, working in the fields, serving in government, as a minister, in parliament, as an international civil servant and as a diplomat, including the
14:20
Speaker A
last two years leading my country's delegation on the security council. I have gained not only the experience but the expertise that we need now. I have also led in times of scarce resources and even with scarce resources I
14:36
Speaker A
delivered results to ensure that we mobilize additional finances. I have also had the approach of building bridges, uniting people around common goals and objectives and ensuring fairness. These are the attributes that I believe we need in the next secretary
14:55
Speaker A
general and this is why I have put forward myself so that we can work together to make the UN fit for purpose for now and for the future. Thank you.
15:10
Speaker A
Thank you our ambassador Rodriguez Bette. And next and finally we go to Mr. Maki Saul Sagal.
15:16
Speaker A
Thank you very much. What I wish to offer is added value based on experience.
15:26
Speaker A
First, I bring national experience as a former head of state built over nearly 40 years of public service.
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Speaker A
I have learned to listen, dialogue, and take difficult decisions. Second, I bring regional experience including as chairperson of echoas.
15:55
Speaker A
This taught me how to manage crisis in complex and political situation. Third, I bring continental experience through my chairmanship of the African Union and Nepad.
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Speaker A
These responsibilities allowed me to address Africa's major challenges including peace and security, human rights and development.
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Speaker A
I also led the successful campaign for the AU to become a permanent member of the G20.
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Speaker A
together. These experiences taught me to work with leaders from all regions, listen to every perspective, and build practical solutions.
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Speaker A
If elected, I will use this experience at the service of member states. I will be a facilitator of dialogue and a secretary general committed to implementation reform and restoring trust.
17:19
Speaker A
Trust in the organization, trust among member states and trust for the people we serve. I thank you.
17:30
Speaker A
Thank you, President Fella. Now we'll move to our first round of questions. The candidates will answer questions from both us and our audience.
17:41
Speaker A
Each candidate will have one minute to respond and we'll rotate who answers first based on a random drawing conducted before tonight's event.
17:50
Speaker A
And our first section, it actually focuses on crisis and conflict. The United Nations, as you know, was founded to help maintain international peace and security. But as we speak, there remains unresolved conflicts in Gaza and in Iran. Long-running humanitarian crises
18:05
Speaker A
in Sudan and in Heidi. And of course, you have growing civil wars and insurgencies in places like Myanmar and the Sahal. All testing the legacy and the limits of international diplomacy.
18:16
Speaker A
And all set to test the power of the next secretary general and his or her resolve to uphold the mandates of the UN charter ratified 81 years ago. And here is our first question to all the candidates. And the question is, the
18:33
Speaker A
current crisis over the straight of Homus demonstrates how regional conflicts can threaten global energy markets and trade, closing a critical shipping lane for the world. Yet, the Security Council was unable to adopt a resolution.
18:52
Speaker A
If diplomacy inside the council fails, what would you do to ensure the UN still plays a meaningful role in keeping the peace?
19:05
Speaker A
Let's start with Miss Carolyn Rodriguez Briquette. The floor is yours. Thank you, Hinda. Indeed, we have not been able to see the results we want to see in ending the conflict in the straight of Hormuz. But I believe that there is space for the
19:22
Speaker A
secretary general when there is no agreement by members of the security council to present options that could possibly be utilized to dialogue with the conflict parties. I'm not oblivious to the geopolitical situation. But one thing the secretary general does not
19:41
Speaker A
have the luxury of doing and that is not trying. The secretary general must try and I would be that secretary general that would try whether it is in Iran or in Haiti or in Sudan or in the DRC to
19:56
Speaker A
put those proposals to the security council if the tools at my disposal as secretary general are not good enough.
20:04
Speaker A
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mak. Grand security function global stability particular the solution. Thank you, Secretary General.
21:23
Speaker A
Rebecca Greenspan. Thank you. The blockade of the security council is when the job of the sec of the secretary general starts because precisely is to open the possibilities for agreement. The job of the secret of the secretary general. I was in a very
21:41
Speaker A
similar situation when I when we brokered the agreement in the Black Sea H initiative precisely for the grain and the cereals be able to be traded and for prices in the world markets to drop and for people around the world not to
21:58
Speaker A
suffer the consequences of the regional conflict and we can do the same in this trade of Hermus. We should have engaged very early on with all the actors to try to open up at least for the benefit of
22:13
Speaker A
the people that are suffering far away from the situation in the state of Formos that is affecting everybody.
22:21
Speaker A
Michelle Bash well I think that first of all the secret should try to prevent and anticipate the things from happening that way they cannot be prevented. Of course, it has to use all the tools that the the the UN charter gives them good
22:36
Speaker A
offices, has to maintain bridges with parties in dispute, insist on the peaceful settlements of of disputes. Uh it can mediate, send special envoys, etc., etc. Sit together with member state with regional grouping and see what else can we all together produce a
22:54
Speaker A
positive effect. It's not easy but I think one the most important thing is that the secretary general cannot give up. He has to insist and try and try and see different strategies and help member state to identify different strategies
23:08
Speaker A
so peace can be brought to the people. At the same time he has to ensure that the organization provides humanitarian assistant uh and support victims of those conflicts so we can we have no lives lost.
23:22
Speaker A
Rafael Mariano Graci the metric of the success of the security council in a world like the one we are having is certainly not the amount of resolutions that can be adopted. We all assume that there is fragmentation. So the absence of an
23:37
Speaker A
agreed resolution one could say is the most predictable outcome of these situations. Today by coincidence today in this house the security council was meeting and they were discussing preventive diplomacy, conflict resolution and of course uh the issue of
23:54
Speaker A
chapter 6, article 33, the charter all these things that are being mentioned. The issue then is not that we do not agree that the secretary general has a role uh to play in those circumstances.
24:08
Speaker A
The issue is to have the secretary general that is really able to do that to be impartial. Impartiality is one of the most difficult traits of the job of the secretary general which is not indifference. It is having the ability
24:23
Speaker A
to put forward concrete solutions to listen not to condemn to be there to solve a problem.
24:31
Speaker A
Maria Fernando Espinosa. Well, I think the conflict that you described uh shows us a the current nature of conflicts. They are regional.
24:44
Speaker A
They have spillover effects and I think that the UN should mobilize the muscle of the UN to look at the spillover effects and support countries that are sometimes thousands of miles away because of the increase in energy prices
25:01
Speaker A
in food prices, the disruption of supply chains. So that is a role for the for the secretary general. And the second role is as my colleagues have stated clearly persistence. Being an honest broker not just claim that you are
25:17
Speaker A
impartial but be perceived as an impartial honest broker by the member states. There is always space for the secretary general to operate as an honest broker. And of course, a secretary general has to be persistent and physical pres and physically present
25:37
Speaker A
where she is needed. Miss Espinosa, we thank you so much for that. Now, staying in the area of crisis and conflict. We have a separate question for each candidate. Again, the order is based on a random drawing.
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Speaker A
This is the first question and it goes to Michelle Bash. Gaza has tested the limits of UN influence. The organization can document suffering and call for action, but it cannot compel the parties to change course. As secretary general, what would
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Speaker A
you do when UN influence collapses like for Gaza and moral authority is not enough?
26:22
Speaker A
Well, I believe moral authority is always needed and you always need to speak out on the issues where v violation of human rights have been or where the violation of international law and humanitarian law is is there. But of
26:36
Speaker A
course, you have to insist on finding ways to put people together to identify strategies that maybe are not perfect, but they you can convince parties to to go after that. So I think the regional needs to be always open to
26:54
Speaker A
possibilities, needs to be um working with member states to identify in which way the secretary general and the secretary can support uh the discussion that will be inside the member state but also I feel you have not discussed that
27:09
Speaker A
but I think the general assembly can also play an important role. Unity for peace has been an important possibility when the the security council has been deadlocked. So I think the great you know has to find all the possible
27:22
Speaker A
options to try to make a difference. I just want to follow up Miss Bash. I mean you build your career on moral authority but when it comes to Gaza obviously moral authority didn't work. It needed action. In your view, what's the
27:37
Speaker A
mechanism? What tool could you use to change the outcome? Well, the thing is that um there is the article 99 that you can use and bring to the security council and to the general assembly. An issue that you feel can go
27:54
Speaker A
in the wrong direction. But it depends on the on the moment and the context because if you're talking about something that is already there, the article 99 won't be the best. But you have to use all the possibilities. You
28:05
Speaker A
have to go in in into the field. You have to work with the with the people there. You have to have presence because and you have to find which are the the possibility of getting allies that can help to produce a change.
28:18
Speaker A
Thank you Mr. Mackis Soul. This question is for you. The UN charter gives the secretary general very little formal power but enormous moral authority. What issue are you willing to champion even if you knew that you lacked the support
28:36
Speaker A
of the security council or the major powers? Here's the role. The facilitator diplomacy, a quiet diplomacy.
29:21
Speaker A
Secretary General responsibility organizer Let me just follow up. Mr. Saul, you talk about building trust. You have 30 seconds to answer the question. How do you do that exactly?
30:25
Speaker A
President contact. Thank you, Mr. S. Caroline Rodriguez. The Security Council is increasingly paralyzed by vetos. As secretary general, how would you make it effective when its most powerful body cannot act?
31:23
Speaker A
I believe that, as I said before, there is always space for the secretary general. I've served on the Security Council and I have seen in times when the Security Council could not act, when certain members or groups of members had
31:39
Speaker A
different views on issues, when the Secretary General, this current Secretary General was able to act. I would want to follow in that same path because you bring neutrality as Secretary General. uh you bring a lack of motive only to help the vulnerable
31:56
Speaker A
and those that are in in need of the UN's assistance. And so I think I would capitalize on that neutrality, capitalize on the tools at my disposals, but also on the footprint that the UN has on the ground that we could receive
32:10
Speaker A
all the information that we need to make certain proposals to the security council. and the Security Council might not act today, but it might back next week based on the Secretary General's recommendation.
32:24
Speaker A
Would you take action without council authorization if it means preventing a crisis? The Secretary General, yes, the Secretary General is the chief administrative office of the organization, but there are certain tools at the disposal of the Secretary General. mediation, good offices, uh
32:42
Speaker A
appointing uh special representatives, there are certain things that you can do. Of course, there are times when that might not be enough and you would have to depend on the security council. But if for example, a veto is going to bring
32:56
Speaker A
immense suffering, then I would want to speak with that member state to let them know what the consequences of that will be.
33:04
Speaker A
Maria Fernando Espinosa, this question is for you. Your vision calls for the breaking down of traditional silos and treating today's challenges in a more integrated way. When it comes to climate change, which is increasingly fueling conflict, migration, food insecurity,
33:22
Speaker A
and humanitarian crisis, how would you reorganize the United Nations so climate is treated as a crosscutting challenge rather than simply an environmental issue?
33:37
Speaker A
Well, thanks for for this question. I have thought a lot about that. If we only think that there are more than 14 ASGs in this house dealing with climate change and not working necessarily together, uh climate change, I think it's not the
33:54
Speaker A
problem. It's a symptom of of uh of a lack of a harmony between our consumption and production patterns, our footprint and the impact it has. You said well um climate change and climate shocks full conflict. What we are
34:14
Speaker A
suffering is is I think a crisis of implementation. We have the knowledge, we have the technologies, we have the agreements. We are very close to meeting for the 31 times in COPs and yet emissions continue to grow and yet small
34:31
Speaker A
island developing country developing states and coastal communities continue to suffer. I would say implementation a crosscutting approach and support to member states so they build better resilience and better adaptation. All this comes with resources, enough uh access to finance,
34:52
Speaker A
access to technologies and institutional capacity. I would like to support countries where to deliver on their climate commitments bringing the house together.
35:02
Speaker A
You talk about breaking silos. Which silo would you break fast? Well, the connection between uh h the development silos within the system, the connection also between conflict and climate and the work that the security uh council does, but also the silo on
35:20
Speaker A
human rights. Erh I think both h both the three pillars should come together when we deal with one of the most erh with the deepest existential threats uh to humanity and to the planet which is uh climate change.
35:36
Speaker A
Thank you. The next question is for Mr. Rafael Graasi and it comes from a UN member state representative.
35:45
Speaker A
Thank you very much. Uh I am Katrus, the deputy permanent representative of Estonia to the United Nations and my question is what are the concrete first steps you would take as a secretary general in a situation when a permanent
36:01
Speaker A
member of the security council wages a war of aggression against another member state. Thank you.
36:08
Speaker A
Thank you very much. I think the first thing that the secretary general has to do, if I may, regardless of the fact that it is a permanent member or not a permanent member, any member of the United States, triggering a war or using
36:20
Speaker A
aggression is serious enough uh for the secretary general to step in. And what we need to do is to restore this credibility of the UN as a valid interlocutor and then use the tools at hand which are many.
36:42
Speaker A
Which tool in particular would you go for first? Secretary General must use all the tools that the charter mentions and this means first of all talking and listening.
36:54
Speaker A
Second of all, tackling a conflict from a realist perspective, which means that nice words won't do. We have to look at the roots of the conflict. We have to know why a country took the most gravest decision of all in international
37:10
Speaker A
relations, which is the use of force, a decision that does not come lightly. So we need to understand that and we need to understand of course the victim of that aggression and provide for solutions that are viable.
37:26
Speaker A
This question is for Rebecca Greenspan again it comes from a UN NGO representative. I am Kamia representative solid polio Astra Mali and my question is across many many region particularly the style conflict are increased ceiling driven ban impact of climate change
37:58
Speaker A
environmental degradation food insecurity and force deployment. What concrete action will do you take to train in preventive diplomacy and ensure that climate climate security, local and community peace building become central pillars of the United Nation peace and security
38:30
Speaker A
agenda. Thank you. Can you help me on the first part of the question because I couldn't understand.
38:38
Speaker A
Basically being asked how you would ensure that civil society especially local local organizations are meaningfully involved in these efforts in addressing the climate change yes issue and the relationship of climate change with peace and security. Did I understand correctly?
38:59
Speaker A
That's correct. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much. I'm sorry the the the sound was not very very good. First of all, I really believe that climate is becoming uh an issue of peace and security. You know, most of the displacements that we are
39:15
Speaker A
seeing today from people are because of climate issues. And so obviously it stabilized countries, destabilized regions and the relationship with the local organizations to be able to craft these strategies to be able to help the communities is a major pillar of any
39:39
Speaker A
action that the UN has to take. I have said very clearly, you know, the UN is unique, but it's not alone. Many times we want to do everything in the UN but what we need to do in these cases in
39:53
Speaker A
many cases is precisely to partner to partner with regional organizations to partner with local organizations that are able to be with the boots on the ground with the knowledge with the a closeness to the people for us to be
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able to act more much more accordingly to the needs of the people. Let me just follow up, Miss Greenspan. I mean, the UN often uses the phrase local ownership, but it seldom gives power to local organizations. What do you suggest
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can be done to address that? Look, you are very right and I think that the big reform of the UN is at the countries in on the ground and let me say we are very much supply driven and not demand driven
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and to be demand driven we need to empower also our people on the ground without you know headquarters always trying to be like a wall between the ground and the member states. So let's do the reform on the ground for the UN
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to act as one and partner with the organizations on the ground, the ownership of the country but also the ownership of the civil society so we can together face the challenges that are so so big and so important so complex that
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will need the action of all of us. Thank you Miss Greenspan. All right, let's get right to our second se section now on UN reform and leadership because whether the United Nations actually succeeds in advancing peace and security, sustainable development, human
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rights, all of that ultimately depends on the strength of the institution itself. And this of course coming at a time when confidence in international institution is under strain. Many governments are calling for a UN that is more effective, more agile, more
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accountable. There is also growing support among member states for the United Nations to appoint its first female secretary general after eight decades of male leadership. Our next question will go to each of the six candidates. You each will have one
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minute to respond and we start there. If elected secretary general, the question is at the end of your first term, what would you want governments and people around the world to say that the UN does better then than today? And I start with
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you Madame Espinosa. Well, after five years, um, I see the organization with great hopes, uh, because I I believe in human agency and political in political will. So what I envisionage is is is a UN that is trusted h because it has delivered for
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people, more agile uh because it has transformed itself and more united because it has renewed its sense of purpose. And the purpose of the UN is very simple is to prevent conflict and to protect people. And I'm ready ready
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to lead uh this transformation that uh the UN so badly needs. And I agree with those that believe that we need an organization that is more modern, leaner, more effective and much more accountable.
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The same question goes to you director general of Gross. After five years, five years will be a time enough to see whether the UN is back on track.
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Firstly, by addressing and being seen as effective in addressing the most serious issues in front of us, be it in the area of peace and security, development, human rights or any uh of those. This is very important. Perhaps we might not be
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getting them right. uh 100% but it will be clear whether the UN is back or not and the second is that by that time we will have shown that we had the ability to reform that we had the ability to
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have a leaner but more focused and more effective UN five years will show that.
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Thank you. The same question to you President Bash. Well, I also believe that uh people will trust the I mean I hope that at after five years people will trust UN and they will trust because you will see a UN that's closer
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to their issues that is responding better to their needs and their and the demands who is also I believe that the reform will produce a leaner UN but muscle one because we need a UN that is leaner but not weak. We need a UN that
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is able to produce what people needs to produce to have. I believe in a in a in a UN that could be closer to the states and they feel that the the the secretary general and the UN represents truly the
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193 member states and that all everybody can have a voice that we heard. The UN is this unique space when everybody weak, powerful and powerless countries can dialogue and can find solutions. And if we are able to produce that in the
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UN, I think people will trust the UN and that will mean that the UN will continue doing this relevant and essential role.
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Rebecca Greenspan. Yes. One one five years from now, I would like nobody to ask me again where is the UN. That will be my indicator. I would like to see a UN that is back at the table in the scenarios of conflict.
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I would like to see a UN that has rebuilt trust but has used that trust to deliver results on the ground. a more united, more effective, more agile UN, but also a secretary general that has opened the spaces to and the
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partnerships, the engagement with the security council and with the membership of the general assembly and that is able to bring them to the table to bring them to talk and dialogue. What are the different ways in which we can tackle
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the problems? a secretary general that has open doors and that is used by every member of this hall to solve the problems that the people face.
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Ambassador Rodriguez Burgette a few things. First that the reforms that the UN is engaged in now would have been completed and would have started to live to deliver especially on the ground because that where the impact is most
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felt and that also we have a post 2030 agenda that is realistic and that is workable mindful that this next secretary general will be there in 2030.
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So we need to start working on that post 2030 agenda and we should have that by the next five years. Um, also that the UN must be more present especially in the peace and security arena that we would have moved from where we are today
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to a UN that is delivering better in peace and security both on the prevention side and ending of conflict side and also that we would have seen that a woman as secretary general can deliver working with member states.
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Mr. in on confant in onas digital artificial secretary. Secretary General reform the method. in Fore service drop organizer.
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Thank you, Mr. Gross. There is definitely a difference between influence and authority. The Secretary General often has influence through the power of persuasion. Can you give this audience an example of where you have used your influence over authority to get what is
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necessary? Well, I think it's clear that so far, and I say so far because there is an ongoing war there, but we have been able, the IEA, to establish the only independent multilateral presence in a theater of war to prevent a nuclear
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accident with radiological consequences at the Saporisian nuclear power plant where our inspectors are now deployed, established. As you can imagine, as we all can imagine, it was not easy to get to that possibility. And we have negotiated six by now ceasefires between
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Russian Federation and Ukraine to be able to do indispensable repairs that would prevent a major uh accident. That is only possible through credibility.
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That is only possible when you come to the table, the real table and not the imaginary table with viable solutions.
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That is one example. But ambassador, I am curious just a little bit earlier, Mr. Grossi did talk about the idea of impartiality and independence. When we talk about the Secretary General and the dependence on member states to fund this organization,
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you as Secretary General, if you were so selected, would have a duty to speak independently. If a major donor were to threaten to withhold funding unless you soften your criticism of them, what would you do?
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I will speak. I will speak out loud what I think is my moral authority and my duty. And I have to tell you when I was high UN women civil director there was this donor who came and said if you do
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that I will take all your funds and I did it because that was what need to be done. It took all the funds off and we try to work fund other funds. So for me neutrality impartiality independence is
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in my DNA. I've always done that all over my life and I I have proven that that is so important because that's the only possibility that the 193 member state feel that this secretary general really represent them all the powerful
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and the less powerful otherwise it's it's it's terrible because if you permit yourself to be pushed I have been pushed for other reasons as well as high commission of human rights to not uh launch certain certain documents but I
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did it because it was my duty and you have to do your duty otherwise it's not worthy to be secretary general in doing that duty push back from France from Russia the UK the United States from many countries
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China from many countries thank you very much the next secretary general is likely to face sustained financial pressures as it undergoes this reform if you had to make a difficult choice financially, what would you protect at the United Nations
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at all costs? I don't agree with you. First of all, because if we start by saying first what is everything that we are going to cut or stop to do, we will be in the worst situation. I have negotiated a lot in
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financial scenarios. Believe me, that's not the first thing you do. First of all, we have to build on the resolution that just passed here on the liquidity crisis of the UN and convince because I think that the financial crisis is linked to
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the political crisis of the organization. So we have to protect the center. We have to protect the charter.
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We have to protect the three pillars. But we have to be more agile. We have to be able to deliver better results, have more impact and use our resources wisely to convince that we are able to use the
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taxpayers resources in the best way possible. But don't start by giving up. That's will that will be a bad strategy.
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But even when many of those resources are being withheld, the amount of arars right now to the UN particularly by the United States is unprecedented.
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Absolutely. I understand that and believe me, I know the numbers. Yes. But what I am telling you is that is not giving up from the beginning. Not trying to convince, not trying to bring solutions to the problem that we are
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facing. And I think that part of it is try to to have a stable financial path for the UN. When you don't know what you are counting on, you cannot be strategic and you cannot do your job. So I think
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that next year is a good year to have a package that will bring back a stable financial perspective for the UN.
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President Sal, you have used the word trust several times here tonight. How would you actually preserve your independence in the face of the P5 without losing trust of either the security council or the people that you are going to represent?
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Department increase the confidence the protect Open book, the solution, the reform, the responsibility. Deputy Secretary General.
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We now want to go back out to the audience for two questions and the first one will be for Maria Fernando Espinosa coming from a UN member state representative.
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Thank you. I am Ambassador Khali Buangi, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Syrian to the United Nations. As secretary general, what specific UN Security Council reform would you champion? How would you engage in building the consensus to make it
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happen? Thank you. Well, thank you, excellency, for for the question. I think that the Security Council needs to improve its working methods and needs to be more effective.
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There were few months ago there was a special session looking at implementation of the resolutions of the security council and there were me many options discussed there which I fully support. A basically elevating the role of the secretary general as an
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intelligence provider as an honest broker h as a scenario building as as providing options uh to the service of uh of uh the security council members.
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Now regarding uh the reform of the security council, we should not only focus on on numbers but we should focus on effectiveness and impact with regard to the role of the sec of the secretary general h regarding the reform. H it has
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the secretary general has to provide prime secretariat support for a process that is in the hands of member states.
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uh I led as president of the general assembly the IGN work the intergovernmental negotiations on security council reform which have been going on for a long time and I think it's it's uh it's a debt that the system
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has it's mandated also by the fact of the future the role of the of the secretary general should be to provide all the secretariat support encourage member states but of course the reform process is entirely in the hands of
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member states Would you support adding a sixth permanent member to the security council particularly from Africa?
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There is no role for the for the secretary general to support any particular position. There are many positions regarding the composition of the security council. My role would be to provide the advice the secretary at support and if called and requested
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operate as an honest broker within the house and among the members of the security council.
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Our next audience question will go to Carolene Rodriguez Berquette and it's coming from a member of the UN staff.
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Good evening. My name is Fang Chi and I work at the UN Secretariat here in New York.
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My question for you is should you select it as the next secretary general, how would you approach your reform to strengthen staff morale to improve managerial efficiency and to ensure accountability across all levels of the organization.
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Speaker A
Thank you. Thank you for your question and thank you for your work as a staff of the United Nations. Uh first of all, we have already started in the secretariat the reform to make it more efficient and more effective and as secretary general
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I will continue that work to make using technology for example uh to make it more effective. But a secretary general is as strong as the team around her and an organization is as strong as the people who work for it. And what
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I've heard in my consultations with member states, they would like to see the staff of the secretariat looks like the world it represents and so certainly looking at the unrepresented and underrepresented countries will be a priority. I understand that change uh
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brings trepidation and as we go through this reform that will be very much present there but I hope that I can be a motivator as well of staff as we work to deliver better.
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Thank you ambassador. Now we'll turn to our final section global challenges and opportunities. The defining challenges of the next decade, artificial intelligence, climate change pandemics migration and economic fragmentation are reshaping the world faster than governments and international institutions can adapt.
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They transcend borders, blur the boundaries between peace and security, sustainable development and human rights, and require new forms of international cooperation.
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Our final opening question is for all candidates. Each will have one minute to respond.
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The United Nations was created to bring governments together. Today, many of the world's most consequential decisions are not made by governments, but by private companies. What role should the secretary general play in shaping the actions of powerful private actors who
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increasingly influence global security, development and human rights? Mr. Misaw, we start with you. Finspity International Consult.
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Global Institution Breton Woods Financial International Prosperity blinded. Thank you, Michelle Bash. Well, I believe that the secretary general has to be a convenor talking about the different challenges you mentioned. You mentioned a lot of different ones uh in artificial
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intelligence, climate change, etc. And that the UN is a very unique place that to convene all stakeholders for example of course governments but also private sector uh academia um person who develops technologies in the case of the the artificial intelligence to try to
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identify which are the ones that needs to have a a rule governance a global governance but on the same time to develop what we call a smart mix of measures that can on one hand give rules clear rules to everyone that everyone
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governments but also the private sector has to follow but at the same time to boost innovation and the capacity of the private sector to continue advancing in many of these essential issues. So I think the secretary general can be has
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been in the past and can be a very important convenor because it can sit together all the people who are involved in this.
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Rebecca Greenspan. Yes, thank you. So I think that this is a a very good question to refer to what many call now polyateralism that is multistakeholderism that is that you bring you have to bring the actors in the areas where you want
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to influence and we need those that understand the technology. We we need the science, but we need the private sector. And I think that we in the UN can use much more AI and much more new technologies to make us more efficient.
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And we can use it also in the scenarios of crisis to protect women for example with the technology in many of the crisis areas where women are suffering. So I think that this idea of polalism in the issues of technology and AI is very
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handy is right because we need to bring all the actors civil society has to be there because there are issues of human rights there are issues of regulation and the science that is now being convened by the secretary general in the
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UN I think that is a very important step forward in that direction. Carolyn Rodriguez Brian I agree with former president Salaul on the issue of development financing and how we can work with the international financial institutions. Ideally, it
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would be good if we have UN reform moving parallel with the reform of the financial institutions. Uh but that might be too ambitious. But even if we can have small movements, incremental movements with the IFIs that are systemic and that will bring
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concessional financing for example to a large number of member states, especially developing member states. I think that will make things better for a lot of our people in the world. But I also want to speak about AI because I
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believe that AI can be a force for good. But young people are concerned that AI will take their jobs, will kill their creativity. And so this UN, the wisdom of the 193, I believe, can come together to have an AI governance framework that
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can balance innovation and not stifle creativity and at the same time the concerns of our people.
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Maria Fernando Espinosa. Well, I I think the the UN and the secretary general is is uh equipped to convene uh to partner to advocate and that's exactly what we need in the world of today. You you asked about the role of the private
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sector and I think this is absolutely critical because that's where we see innovation, we see jobs, we see resources and that's what developing countries need uh right now. They they need investment, they need access to capital, they need technologies, they
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need opportunity and that's exactly what the UN should help provide. Uh I would also like to refer to uh the importance of artificial intelligence. Erh it's there is a revolution happening in front of our eyes and we have seen the UN
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already convene a few days ago in Geneva. The UN being a convenor but ensuring that AI is used for good and that the source code of all the new technologies is human dignity.
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So we we we should share the opportunities but also share the risk and work on them together. The the UN is very well positioned on that. And again, please wrap it up, Miss Espinosa.
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Excuse me. Please wrap it up. Oh, well, I I was going to say that we need to come to grips on how to better integrate the power of the private sector to work together handinhand with the UN. This is very important.
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understanding of course very clearly that this organization is an intergovernmental organization the same goes for civil society profile Mariana the self-evidence of what the question has the role of the private sector must be understood in the UN and apart from
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gen general assertions we must see where we need to understand that of course in the area of development this is quite clear official development assistance is uh diminishing at dramatic pace and we need to recognize that. We need to
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recognize how we do development assistance in in in in a way that will allow capital investment enabling uh measures to uh set foot and to allow uh this role of the private sector to be really efficient. uh so that requires an
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understanding that uh certain top-down approaches sometimes ideological approaches are not working in the area which has been recognized by my colleagues here here of artificial intelligence coming from a technical organization like the IAEA we are very much aware of that here neither starry
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eyed optimism nor unjustified fears just the right approach which is not a top- down thing. Yes, the UN is looking at it, but some others are doing it. Just a few days ago, a new uh international organization has been set up to deal
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with that. So, this means please wrap it up. This means that there are different approaches.
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Thank you. Now, staying in the area of global challenges and opportunities, we have a separate question for each candidate. Miss Greenspan, we'll start with you and it's on trade. Trade is increasingly being shaped by geopolitics rather than economics. Tariffs, export
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controls, and shifting supply chains are becoming tools of national security. What role should the secure secretary general play in preventing economic fragmentation from becoming a source of global instability?
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Thank you very much. Let me start to say from the beginning that in a multipolar world if we don't have multilateralism we will walk towards fragmentation.
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Multipolarity with multilateralism is what will give us the promise of inclusion and prosperity for all. So let's not see this as two different things. They are the same thing. Geop geoeconomics had a lot of space at the beginning of the century. Yes. But now
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it's true geioeconomics and geopolitics are two sides of the same coin. You know that I'm come from a trade organization.
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I believe in trade. I believe in trade for small and medium-sized countries to be able to benefit from the global economy. And I think that multilateralism has to be put forward precisely to avoid fragmentation.
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Fragmentation will happen if multilateralism doesn't step up. Just to follow up very quickly, powerful states weaponize trade.
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What mechanisms can be put in place to shift that behavior? Well, but let me tell you, if you look at the numbers of trade last year, trade was much more resilient than all of us predicted. And why? Because we have regional trade.
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Regionalism is back. Integration, different agreements between groups of countries are setting the rules of the game for them even if at the global level trade is being weaponized. So those are resilient instruments that countries have used to make trade still
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an instrument for growth and prosperity. Thank you, Mr. Graci. This question is for you. Artificial intelligence is changing warfare as rapidly as it's changing commerce. Should the United Nations lead efforts to establish global rules for autonomous weapons? And what
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should those rules entail? There are certain guard rails that can be applied but we have to be extremely careful.
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Speaker A
Some people say that we need an IEA for AI because here you have an international organization that deals with a very sensitive technology and has been doing it right. Unfortunately, the algorithmic space, the way in which frontline uh models are developed uh in a very
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diffuse way through different jurisdictions makes it extremely difficult to go for a topdown overnormative approach on AI. What we will need to have and do it together with those who are driving this in different parts of the world. We are going to need a
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collaborative platform to define together what are the certain behavioral rules that we may agree on in order not to stifle innovation that we all need and to avoid that we lose the more important factor human in the loop.
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Would you back a verification system? A verification a verification system weapons a verification system of the type that you have for nuclear weapons for example would be an illusion.
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So you need something different. It would be good for me to say yeah do what we do at the IEA. IEA is based on material balance of tangible things.
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This is a different dimension requires a different approach. Miss Rodriguez Pette the question is for you. What is the most important lesson from COVID 19 that the world has yet to act upon? And if another pandemic arises during your first year in office, what
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would be your first priorities be? Let's not call that into existence at all. Um because that would be devastating uh for uh the world community especially now when we face uh severe financial constraints in many of our countries. Many of our countries
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have not recovered from COVID 19. And if you look at the reports on the sustainable development goals, you would see that CO played a very big part in regressing that development for many states and stifling it in in other
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states. Um I think we need to be prepared. We must always be prepared. Uh god forbid there will be another uh pandemic and we must be prepared for that. And I believe that the mechanisms that we have in place, the World Health
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Organization for example, um and member states being present there and who went through the pandemic, all of us went through it. I think we're now better prepared for that. But if we don't have the necessary financing and the
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necessary vaccines and so on, we would see what would um the same thing would happen as happened before where it was survival of the fittest.
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So what would you do? I mean, if wealthy nations were to hoard vaccines, what would you do?
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The Secretary General would have to use her voice. But apart from that, you will need to have the cooperation of all member states for us to address this.
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And this general assembly discusses the the pandemic ever so often. Um, but I believe that I believe in the in the wisdom of our combined 193 member states as well. And we have seen what the pandemic has caused before. And I don't
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think that we want that to happen again. Miss Espinosa, this question is for you.
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At a time of fiscal pressure and competing priorities, how would you convince wealthier nations that financing climate adaptation is an investment in global stability rather than simply foreign aid?
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Well, I I don't think that we need to convince countries to do that. H I think that the evidence, the data is out there, the science is out there. Uh if you invest in resilience, building adaptation, you will have uh less
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Speaker A
migration, you will have uh more economic prosperity, you will have uh uh people living with dignity, protecting their livelihoods. So it is the best uh the best investment and there there is tons of of evidence that that's the case
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and I think we need more more investment in adaptation for sure more investment in resilience building if you look at the outlook uh between investing in mitigation in in lowering emissions and in adaptation uh the balance is like
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that. So we need uh to to balance investment in in climate mitigation, adaptation, resilience building. The mechanisms are out there. H there is a lack of implementation and political will. The secretary general is well placed to make it happen and and to make
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implementation and climate action a reality especially because countries are poor vulnerable vulnerable countries in particular.
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Speaker A
Mr. Soul, this question is for you and it comes from a UN member state representative.
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Speaker A
Good evening. I am Ambassador Tawonga Mushavanu, permanent representative of the Republic of Zimbabwe to the United Nations. And my question is, what initiatives will you implement to advance meaningful reform of the global financial architecture including address the bad debt burden as well as
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operationalizing the severe commitment so that the global south can access development financing on a just and equitable terms.
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Excellence ambassador Zimbabwe in global finan mechanism. The guarantee the risk set condition. Thank you. And now to Michelle Bashley.
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A question from a civil society organization representative. Good afternoon. My name is Rosario Diaz Garavito representing the millennials movement and my question is in a context where human rights are increasingly challenged. How will the human rights pillar be prioritized in your mandate?
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How will the United Nations ensure that funding for human rights remain as part of the humanitarian response, including through the office of the high commissioner of human rights?
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Speaker A
Well, uh, as Secretary General, I must acknowledge and act upon legitimate concerns regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the UN. As high commission of human rights, I have seen firsthand how critical they are for develop prevention of conflict. First of
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Speaker A
all, it's a real important tool on prevention of conflict and also on peaceuilding, but also I would say as for the development of a member state and as a secretary general, I will be ready to speak up with responsibility,
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but also with robust reason every time is appropriate contributing to effective measures and also to end violence and violations. But I will actively seek to demonstrate to all concerned that human rights is crucial for international peace and also for sustainable
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development. I will ensure stronger coordination I would say among different agencies, funds and programs that do develop uh human rights work at the ground. The other thing is to work with members say to avoid cuts to organization that is chronically very u
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ill uh finance and and and and also human resources are are not big amounts of it. That's only I I believe it's only like two or 4% of the budget of the regular budget that goes to the office
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of the high commissioner and I will actively engage with leaders everywhere to ensure that we can mobilize voluntary contributions so human rights can be that important key pillar of the UN.
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Speaker A
Thank you Mel. Let's move to our final question now and it does focus on the first words of the UN charter. We the peoples. You will each have one minute to explain what you see is the greatest threat facing the
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world's peoples. And I begin with you, Karolene Rodriguez Briquette. I would say the threat to multilateralism.
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Multilateralism is the guarantee for our global security and protection and we have to protect this at all cost. I know that the world out there is looking to see how multilateralism is benefiting the people on the ground. How is it ending
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conflicts or preventing conflicts? How it is delivering on development. But I also believe that we have an important responsibility and as secretary general I would work on this is to communicate to our populations about the importance of the United Nations and
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multilateralism. The generation of World War II is not with us anymore. And history has a way of repeating itself if we don't learn from it and if we don't communicate about this. But I think communicating the work of the UN is
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Speaker A
better when it's also underpinned by action and action to make changes on the ground to see development on the ground and that is what I would do as secretary general communicating why the UN exists why multilateralism is important but
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Speaker A
also what actions are being taken by the United Nations to address the global challenges we face today.
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Speaker A
The same question to you Mr. Saul Revenue of fundamental security development. information statalism. Renov service Mr.
85:04
Speaker A
A grave threat is that the current fragmentation we have been talking about and upon which I think we all coincide puts us in a point beyond convergence beyond believing that in spite of all these differences there are still common
85:24
Speaker A
denominators. That generation 80 years ago had differences. But it understood that to avoid the scourge and the misery that had affected them twice in one generation, they had to do something different. We are in a difficult position now. And it is not impossible
85:46
Speaker A
that we will reach the point that cancelelling out each other will be the rule. And for that there is still one UN. Let's not forget that.
86:00
Speaker A
Mr. Greenspan, I think that the the main challenge for we the people is the belief that might is right. Is the weakening of international law and humanitarian law.
86:14
Speaker A
Is the erosion of the belief what f founded this organization. That was the the great powers thought that they needed restraint. That's why they built an international organization, an organization where they will exert restraint, not only power. And we need
86:36
Speaker A
to bring back that idea to the UN. We need to bring back that idea to the great powers and for the coalitions for multilateralism.
86:48
Speaker A
a multilateralism coalition, the most stable coalition in the small and medium-sized countries because we need the law, we need the framework, we need the charter and we need to bring back to it to the main initial idea all the
87:05
Speaker A
other powers also to be able to stabilize the capacity of the UN to be able to bring peace, development and human rights. Madame Ambassador, well I I think that um there are many threats uh because it's different the
87:25
Speaker A
threat that can have a country today in the Gulf that families and young people in Africa where they have no jobs or where there are extremist groups that are trying to recruit them. But I believe that the kind of challenges that
87:38
Speaker A
the world is facing today are global challenges. So nobody's going to solve them themselves. So when there is polarization, fragmentation intends to weaken the international community that is really a problem. So that's why as all of them as already said we need a
87:54
Speaker A
strong materialism. We need a UN that's agile efficient effective transparent, accountable, and that takes seriously all the different challenges that young people have, that women have because peace is essential. But there will be no peace and security if there
88:11
Speaker A
no development. There was no peace and security if there no human rights. We need to work strongly on all of them to be able that people feels that this UN is really responding to what they need.
88:22
Speaker A
The greatest threat facing the world's people to you Maria Fernando Espinosa. Well, allow me to start with a quote.
88:29
Speaker A
Um, Elivisel Nobel Peace Prize said that the opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference. And I am afraid of that of indifference especially h understanding that nearly half of humanity is under 30 today. And yet uh the institutions that
88:50
Speaker A
are shaping their future and their present are still designed led and governed by previous generations.
88:58
Speaker A
Erh and we see that erh innovators uh leading companies but also the majority of combatants h including non-armed state groups erh gangs are are filled with young people that do they that don't do not see a future. So
89:20
Speaker A
my other key word would be trust. We need to regain trust in international law, in the UN charter, in the role of the UN, in the importance of cooperation and collective action. And for that I think that as secretary generals
89:37
Speaker A
potential all of us and hopefully uh me our responsibility is to make the UN relevant again to deliver to touch the hearts and souls of people on the ground to serve people on the ground and and not to confuse activity with impact and
89:56
Speaker A
to build an organization that is more accountable to the people it serves. That is my commitment. Thank you, Minister.
90:06
Speaker A
Well, tonight you've heard from the six candidates seeking to become the next Secretary General of the United Nations.
90:13
Speaker A
You've heard their ideas and conflict and diplom diplomacy, responding to emerging technologies and addressing the global challenges that increasingly transcend national borders. Now, I would like to give each of you an opportunity to make a closing statement. In your
90:29
Speaker A
closing remarks, tell us what your priorities would be in your first 100 days as Secretary General will go in the reverse order of the opening statements beginning with Mackisol. You have two minutes.
90:41
Speaker A
Thank you very much. My immediate action will be to build a strong team based on competence, diversity, and balanced geographical representation.
90:56
Speaker A
I will work on trip main priorities. First, I will strengthen the UN's capacity on peace and security through preventive diplomacy, early warning, mediation, good offices, and closer cooperation with regional organizations, particularly on peace operations.
91:24
Speaker A
Second, I will initiate an operational review of its structures and mandates to improve the organization's efficiency and impact.
91:38
Speaker A
I will launch consultations with member states on reform, including the UNAT initiative. I will also work with member states to address the UN's liquidity crisis while improving accountability and transparency. Third, I will keep human rights and development at the
92:06
Speaker A
heart of the global agenda. I will begin consultations on the post 2030 agenda with member states, the Bretonwood institutions, IFIs, the private sector, civil society and philanthropy.
92:24
Speaker A
I will promote development financing based more on investment, trade and partnerships while improving developing countries access to capital market knowledge and innovation.
92:43
Speaker A
In my first 100 days, I want to restore trust and put the UN on a path to become more agile, more effective and more and ready to listen, act and bring people together. I thank you Carolyn Rodriguez.
93:05
Speaker A
The first order of business obviously will be deploying my senior team and of course it will be geographically balance uh firstly of course competence but geographical balance and gender balance and then I'll focus on five things uh first it's reform advancing the reform
93:22
Speaker A
of the secretariat which will be under my authority uh but another aspect of that reform is providing the member states with the neutral information that they need to make the structural reforms because that reform is in the hands of
93:35
Speaker A
members the states. Secondly, it would be on conflict resolution and prevention and there I would look how the tools at the disposal of the secretary general be it mediation or the good offices can be used or can be better used and start
93:48
Speaker A
deploying those. Uh thirdly, the humanitarian situation. We have a really terrible humanitarian situation and some work has already been done in trying to improve that. But I would want to to advance that looking at what are the impediments political, logistical and
94:03
Speaker A
how we can deliver better. And thirdly addressing the unrepresented and underrepresented countries. But I will have to commence that because that came up from a lot of member states in the interactive dialogue. And so I would want to start work on that and
94:18
Speaker A
commencing discussions with the international financial institutions. As I mentioned before, even small steps that are systemic that can bring relief to countries especially when it comes to concessional financing would make a huge difference even as we work for greater
94:33
Speaker A
reforms. But I want to do that in partnership not from a pedestal speaking uh to the IFIs but working in partnership and of course with member states. We have the multi-dimensional vulnerability index and work has already started on going beyond GDP. But how do
94:49
Speaker A
we use the MVI for example to work on concessional financing for the most vulnerable countries? And I would do all of this working in close collaboration with member states given my commitment to be close to member states being
95:03
Speaker A
accessible to member states in a very systematic way and not in an ad hoc fashion. I believe that's realistic for the first 100 days.
95:13
Speaker A
Rebecca Greenspan. Yeah. Momentum is set on day one. So in my first 100 days, I will return peacemaking to the heart of the organization. I will restore trust in the UN as a convenor and establish a good officer support unit in the
95:34
Speaker A
executive office of the secretary general, a small agile team operating at the highest political level. I will engage from my first day in office with all member states, the security council and the parties to conflict on peacekeeping. We need an integrated
95:52
Speaker A
planning structure for peace security. One sizefits all tools no longer work. Pretending otherwise waste resources and erodess credibility.
96:04
Speaker A
We must be demand driven and not supply driven. focus on realistic delivery and we must partner more with regional organizations. Second, UN80 broke important ground. Member states have invested in this process that must not go to waste. But cutting cost is not
96:26
Speaker A
enough. Without a vision of change, that only will make us weaker. I will reform how incentives work. tackle the behavior that drives duplication and unhealthy competition. And I we also have to reform from the top, not only from the
96:46
Speaker A
bottom. I will build on resolution 80270 to put this organization's finance back on solid footing. Third, rebuild trust.
96:58
Speaker A
This is the most important ingredient for transformation. As we move from point A to point B, there will be fear, uncertainty and disruption to the status quo. Not all will be convinced. Not all will be eager. I treat communication and
97:16
Speaker A
credibility as part of mandate delivery. I will engage the public through the formats, language and platforms that they use. I will embody the change. I will bring to this organization and day by day recover people's trust in the
97:34
Speaker A
work that we do. Please wrap up. Thank you very much. 100 days 100 days might not be enough to do everything that needs to be done to put the UN back on track. But they will be a very good indication whether we
97:50
Speaker A
mean business or it's just the same old thing. statements, speeches, good intentions. We all know that. We've been there before. And it's not going to work. It didn't work before. It will not work now. We will have to have brutal
98:06
Speaker A
honesty to recognize what we can do. And that will start with a different dialogue, a different dialogue, a new deal, if I may use the expression, between the Secretary General and member states. A new deal between the Secretary General and the
98:29
Speaker A
Secretariat and the staff to talk to them, to listen to them, not to sugarcoat problems, but to take care of them. It will need that we look at developmental areas with the wisdom that the new times and the new
98:49
Speaker A
economic circumstances that we have dwelled upon during this conversation require. But that needs to walk the walk and not simply to talk the talk. When it comes to reform, of course, important.
99:06
Speaker A
Everybody's a reformer. Now let's see what happens on January 1st. We will have to see and to separate what is is within the mandate of the secretary general and there yes resolution not wasting time and for what is in the
99:23
Speaker A
hands of the membership to have this honest dialogue to determine what is the level of our ambition. What do we really want to do with the UN? It is perfectly possible. We shouldn't lose hope. A UN that works, although it sounds it sounds
99:42
Speaker A
incredible, is possible. Maria Fernando Espinosa. Well, just to recall, 100 days is a little more than three months. No. And it's hard to be a regional here, but uh I have to say that I will work in my
99:59
Speaker A
first 100 days to to recover to set the foundations better to recover uh credibility and trust within the UN system with member states and uh with the people we serve. And basically let me just speak about three issues. Number
100:19
Speaker A
one, it was already mentioned but it's obvious. establish a high quality cabinet and a reformed executive office based on three issues. Competence, competence, compend competence plus one which is integrity. And I I really as secretary general need to ensure that my
100:40
Speaker A
decisions are well informed and timely and that I'm able to advise and inform member states. Number two, focus on reform implementation and financial stability. Let me reveal something here.
100:55
Speaker A
Today, 72 member states have not yet paid their dues to the organization. This is of course not only a financial issue. I think it is a message that we need to regain trust of member states so they see value for money. So they see
101:14
Speaker A
that this organization is to become more accountable, more transparent and more impact driven. Of course, accelerate implementation and follow through the UN80 package h and the decisions that have been made by member states. I think UN80 as I have said is a very good start
101:33
Speaker A
but more is needed to transit from budget cuts and and mergers of agencies and programs to a new business model for the UN based on impact performance and accountability. And number three, I will be present and visible while the crisis
101:49
Speaker A
and conflicts are. I will make prevention not as slogan but an operating principle a discipline and I will establish very early a prevention and early action hub to inform member states on time and I will have the UN
102:04
Speaker A
machinery ready and active to prevent conflicts. I will be there myself carrying the UN flag. And of course, Miss Espinosa, if if I have to talk about crisis, let me close with that. This institution is on crisis. So, I will be present here
102:21
Speaker A
too to restore trust and communication with the staff members of this organization. We we need to restore this capacity of dialogue and and basically what I would do is recover the mandate of this institution in in full, make the
102:38
Speaker A
UN relevant, prevent conflict and protect people. Thank you, Michelle Bash. Well, throughout my tenure, my overarching priority will be to be present and active wherever, whenever and however I can be of service to the purposes and principles of the charter
102:57
Speaker A
of the UN. But I always thought when I was a president that is good to get objectives for the first period because you focus on that and you can accomplish. So in my first 100 days I will prioritize and accomplish appoint
103:10
Speaker A
key senior management officials on the basis of of course proof competence and integrity but also we need gender and geographical balance. Personally and very on early on I want to engage with member states on key management challenges. This means making
103:25
Speaker A
substantial progress and how to best deepen and accelerate reforms that combine greater efficiencies and effectiveness. The goal will always be to make the UN leaner but muscled. We don't want to make the UN weak. And this in this area is not only to work and
103:42
Speaker A
engage with members but also with the staff because I know that the staff want the same. We want a very strong UN.
103:48
Speaker A
Second, I want to secure I will try at least to secure the financial stability of the organization through payment of assess and voluntary contribution which is indispensable for all else. I will review all institutional and financial tools available to a secretary general
104:04
Speaker A
under chapter 6 in order to boost effective action on peacemaking and peace buildingilding. I will look very carefully at the recommendations made today at the security council.
104:14
Speaker A
Meanwhile, identify opportunities for enhanced contribution to resolving current conflicts especially where violation of human rights and international humanitarian law are the gravest and humanitarian needs the greatest. guided by existing multilateral commitments start to sustain a resultoriented dialogue with
104:34
Speaker A
all relevant actors to exponentially expon exponentially increase finance for development and climate action. This is a very condition for robust long-term sustainable development and also something has been absent here the insurance of the agenda 2030. Uh to succeed, I will work in good faith with
104:52
Speaker A
all those willing to help ensure the UN continues to be the tremendous powerful force for good it has been for decades.
105:00
Speaker A
I think millions around the world truly need it. Thank you, Miss Bash. Michelle Bashel, Maria Fernandanda Espinosa, Rafael Mariano Grosi, Rebecca Greenspan, Caroline Rodriguez, Briquette, Mackis Saul. One of you may be the 10th Secretary General of the United Nations. a secretary general who
105:26
Speaker A
will inherit a world more divided, more technologically complex, and yet probably more interconnected than at any point in the UN's 81-year history. But there are going to be a lot of challenges that one of you will have to
105:40
Speaker A
face as the next leader. And the decisions that the next leader will make over the next several months will have an inordinate impact on the next 81 years of this institution and the ability to be an effective steward for
105:55
Speaker A
the world's 8 billion people. From all of us at Bloomberg, thank you to the president of the United Nations General Assembly and her team for their partnership in presenting this town hall. And thank you for joining us. Good
106:09
Speaker A
night. Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, there's more. In a few moments, the moderators will begin a town hall discussion to wrap up on Bloomberg television. Now is the time to answer the poll questions. The QR code is on the screen.
Topics:United NationsSecretary-General candidatesUN reformglobal challengesmultilateralismpeace and securityclimate changeartificial intelligencehuman rightsinternational cooperation

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