UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Appointment of the Secretary-General – Selected Online Resources

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Selection and Appointment Process
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/appointment-secretary-general

• Selection and Appointment of the Next Secretary-General – Process 2025-2026:
  https://www.un.org/en/sg-selection-and-appointment

Ask DAG! (Dag Hammarskjöld Library – Frequently Asked Questions about the UN)
How is the Secretary-General of the United Nations appointed?
How is the Secretary-General of the United Nations chosen?
https://ask.un.org/faq/97048

Press Releases & Letters

• Press Release: Interactive Dialogues with Secretary-General candidates – a pivotal moment in selecting UN’s next leader (16 April 2026): https://www.un.org/pga/80/2026/04/16/press-release-interactive-dialogues-with-secretary-general-candidates-a-pivotal-moment-in-selecting-uns-next-leader/
• Statement of the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Ms. Annalena Baerbock, on the selection and appointment process for the next Secretary-General (25 November 2025): https://www.un.org/pga/80/2025/11/25/statement-of-the-president-of-the-united-nations-general-assembly-ms-annalena-baerbock-on-the-selection-and-appointment-process-for-the-next-secretary-general/
• Text on United Nations-Shanghai Cooperation Organization ties sparks debate as General Assembly concludes substantive work; 193-Member Organ encourages Member States to nominate women for next Secretary-General (GA/12703, 5 September 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/ga12703.doc.htm

Official Documents

• A/80/711 (20 April 2026): Letter dated 20 April 2026 from the Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the General Assembly: https://docs.un.org/A/80/711
  Transmits, on behalf of the of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) Group, letter on the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General.
• A/80/470-S/2025/836 (22 December 2025): Letter dated 22 December 2025 from the Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council: https://docs.un.org/A/80/470
  Transmits, on behalf of the of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) Group, letter on the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General.
• S/2025/788 (3 December 2025): Letter dated 1 December 2025 from the Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: https://docs.un.org/S/2025/788
  Transmits concept note for the Security Council open debate on “Leadership for peace”, to be held on 15 Dec. 2025.
• S/2025/770 (26 November 2025): Letter dated 26 November 2025 from the Permanent Representative of Spain to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council: https://docs.un.org/S/2025/770
  Transmits the Ibero-American common position on the selection of the next Secretary-General, adopted by the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Ibero-American countries on 24 Nov. 2025.
• A/80/544-S/2025/765 (25 November 2025): Letter dated 25 November 2025 from the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council addressed to all Permanent Representatives and Permanent Observers to the United Nations: https://docs.un.org/A/80/544
  Invites Member States to present candidates for the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General of the UN.
• A/RES/79/327: Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly: Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 5 September 2025: https://docs.un.org/A/RES/79/327
  Sets out the process for the selection and appointment in line with Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations.
• A/79/995 (2 September 2025): Report of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly: https://docs.un.org/A/77/995
  Includes summary of the thematic debate on the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General.

UN News Centre

• Gender, geography and powerbroking in play in race for next UN chief (17 April 2026): https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/04/1167323
• Ex-UN chief Ban warns Security Council risks irrelevance without reform (15 December 2025): https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/12/1166598
• Paralysis, shrinking aid, outdated methods highlight need for reform, delegates warn in Security Council (SC/16248, 15 December 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sc16248.doc.htm
• Security Council lays the ground in the race for the next Secretary-General (14 November 2025): https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/11/1166374

Non-UN Sources

• Security Council Report: Appointment of the Secretary-General
  https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/appointment-of-the-secretary-general/
  “What’s in Blue – Insights on the work of the Security Council” and special research reports

• 1 for 8 Billion: Candidates and speculation
  https://1for8billion.org/candidates-and-speculation
  This page is intended to increase the transparency of the process for selecting the UN Secretary-General and to promote healthy debate on the characteristics and priorities that the next UN leader should hold.

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Looking Back: Appointment Process 2021

President of the 75th Session of the General Assembly: Selection and Appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
https://www.un.org/pga/75/sg-selection/

• Letter from the President of the General Assembly circulating a draft resolution regarding the appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations (15 June 2021): https://www.un.org/pga/75/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/06/PGA-letter-SG-appointment-draft-resolution.pdf
• Letter from the President of the General Assembly conveying transmitting the recommendation by the UN Security Council in the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General (8 June 2021): https://www.un.org/pga/75/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/06/PGA-letter-Appointment-of-the-Secretary-General-of-the-United-Nations2.pdf
• Letter from the President of the General Assembly conveying written answers to additional questions posed to Mr Antonio Guterres during the informal interactive dialogue with Member States on 7 May 2021 (27 May 2021): https://www.un.org/pga/75/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/05/PGA-letter-additional-questions-posed-to-Mr-Guteres-IID-SG-selection-process.pdf
• Letter from the President of the General Assembly conveying the format for the informal interactive dialogue with candidates for the position of Secretary-General (26 April 2021): https://www.un.org/pga/75/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/04/PGA-letter-Informal-interactive-dialogue-SG-selection-and-appointment-process.pdf
• Letter from the President of the General Assembly on the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General, transmitting the vision statement from the incumbent and conveying the date for the informal dialogue (25 March 2021): https://www.un.org/pga/75/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/03/PGA-letter-SG-selection-informal-dialogue.pdf
• Joint letter from the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council regarding the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General (5 February 2021): https://www.un.org/pga/75/wp-content/uploads/sites/100/2021/02/PGA-PSC-letter-SG-selection-process.pdf
• Letter from the President of the General Assembly on the selection and appointment of the Secretary-General, containing communications from the incumbent (11 January 2021): https://www.un.org/pga/75/2021/01/11/secretary-general-appointment/

Official Documents

• A/RES/75/286: Appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations: Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 June 2021: https://docs.un.org/A/RES/75/286
• A/75/912 (8 June 2021): Letter dated 8 June 2021 from the President of the Security Council to the President of the General Assembly: https://docs.un.org/A/75/912
  Reports that the Security Council, at its 8789th meeting, held in private on 8 June 2021, adopted by acclamation resolution 2580 (2021) which recommends to the General Assembly that António Guterres be appointed Secretary-General of the UN for a 2nd term of office from 1 Jan. 2022 to 31 Dec. 2026.
• A/75/902 (1 June 2021): Request for the inclusion of an additional item in the agenda of the 75th session: appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations: letter dated 1 June 2021 from the Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the United Nations addressed to the President of the General Assembly: https://docs.un.org/A/75/902
  “Annex: Explanatory memorandum”: p. 2.
• A/75/780-S/2021/179 (25 February 2021): Letter dated 5 February 2021 from the President of the General Assembly and the President of the Security Council addressed to all Permanent Representatives and Permanent Observers to the United Nations: https://docs.un.org/A/75/780
  Invites Member States to present candidates for the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General of the UN.
• S/2021/27 (11 January 2021): Letter dated 11 January 2021 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council: https://docs.un.org/S/2021/27
  Informs that António Guterres stands ready to serve a 2nd term as Secretary-General.
• A/RES/69/321 (22 September 2015): Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly: resolution / adopted by the General Assembly: https://docs.un.org/A/RES/69/321
  para 32-44: Selection and appointment of the Secretary-General and other executive heads
• Further documents – click here

UN News Centre

• António Guterres secures second term as UN Secretary-General, calls for new era of ‘solidarity and equality’ (18 June 2021): https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/06/1094282
• António Guterres nominated by Security Council for second term as UN chief (8 June 2021): https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/06/1093622
• Informal dialogue on UN chief selection process gets underway (7 May 2021): https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/05/1091572
• Guterres to seek second five-year term as UN Secretary-General (11 January 2021): https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/01/1081832

Non-UN Sources

• 1 for 7 Billion
  2021 selection process underway with incumbent standing for a second term
  https://www.1for7billion.org/

Looking Back: Appointment Process 2016

President of the 70^th Session of the General Assembly: Procedure of Selecting and Appointing the next UN Secretary-General
https://www.un.org/pga/71/sg/
The letters submitted by Member States for presenting candidates for the position of the next United Nations Secretary-General are published here and videos on the selection progress can be viewed.

UN Pulse (Dag Hammarskjöld Library)
United Nations Secretary-General: Did You Know?
Did you know a new Secretary-General will be appointed in 2016?
https://tmblr.co/ZE4p7x23rYYfD

United Nations Blog – Selecting the United Nations Secretary-General (7 January 2016)
https://web.archive.org/web/20160108015359/https://blogs.un.org/blog/2016/01/07/selecting-the-united-nations-secretary-general/
explains the appointment process by discussing the questions how the Secretary-General is selected, who were the previous Secretaries-General and who will be the next Secretary-General; also lists fun facts and links to further information

UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS)
Civil society: Propose questions for UN Secretary-General Candidates
https://www.un.org/pga/70/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/06/SG-Candidates-Responses-10-Civil-Society-Questions-4-Candidates.pdf
The President of the General Assembly (PGA) is organizing informal dialogues between UN Member States and SG candidates starting in April 2016.
The Office of the PGA has requested UN-NGLS to facilitate a process with civil society to provide questions that can be asked to candidates during these dialogues.

Official Documents

• A/RES/71/4 (13 October 2016): Appointment of the Secretary-General of the United Nations: https://docs.un.org/A/RES/71/4
• A/71/531 (7 October 2016): Letter dated 6 October 2016 from the President of the Security Council to the President of the General Assembly: https://docs.un.org/A/71/531
  Reports that the Security Council, at its 7782nd meeting, held in private on 6 Oct. 2016, adopted by acclamation resolution 2311 (2016) which recommends to the General Assembly that António Guterres be appointed Secretary-General of the UN for a term of office from 1 Jan. 2017 to 31 Dec. 2021.
• S/RES/2311 (2016): https://docs.un.org/S/RES/2311(2016)
  on recommendation that António Guterres be appointed Secretary-General of the UN for a term of office from 1 Jan. 2017 to 31 Dec. 2021

UN News Centre

• INTERVIEW: ‘A surge in the diplomacy for peace would be my priority’ – UN Secretary-General-designate (19 October 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/10/543222-interview-surge-diplomacy-peace-would-be-my-priority-un-secretary-general
• António Guterres, the next United Nations Secretary-General (Photo Story): https://bit.ly/2elhFCK
• António Guterres appointed next UN Secretary-General by acclamation (13 October 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/10/542642
• Member States set to appoint next Secretary-General (12 October 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/10/542622
• Security Council recommends former Prime Minister of Portugal Guterres as next UN Secretary-General (6 October 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/10/542042
• Portugal’s António Guterres emerges as favourite for next UN Secretary-General (5 October 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/10/541942
• Selecting the next UN Secretary-General: Informal briefings reopen (3 October 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/10/541722
• INTERVIEW: Selection of next UN Secretary-General has been game-changing process, says outgoing General Assembly President (8 September 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/09/538582-interview-selection-next-un-secretary-general-has-been-game-changing-process
• Selecting the next UN Secretary-General: Security Council holds first round of secret poll on candidates (21 July 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/07/535052
• Selecting the next UN Secretary-General: Informal briefings reopen (14 July 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/07/534432
• Selecting the next Secretary-General: UN to hold townhall meeting with candidates (12 July 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/07/534272
• Selecting the next UN Secretary-General: informal briefings reopen (7 June 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/06/531442
• The next UN Secretary-General: Assembly President says ‘new standard of transparency’ established (15 April 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/04/526832-next-un-secretary-general-assembly-president-says-new-standard-transparency
• The next UN Secretary-General: informal briefings continue (13 April 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/04/526612-next-un-secretary-general-informal-briefings-continue
• “Crucial” to find best person for top UN job as crises mount (12 April 2016): https://news.un.org/en/audio/2016/04/611322
• United Nations begins informal briefings to select next Secretary-General (12 April 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/04/526502-united-nations-begins-informal-briefings-select-next-secretary-general
• UN chief candidates prepare for “interview in front of whole world” (11 April 2016): https://news.un.org/en/audio/2016/04/611162
• Selecting a new UN Secretary-General: a job interview in front of the whole world (8 April 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/04/526302-selecting-new-un-secretary-general-job-interview-front-whole-world
• General Assembly President announces meeting dates for UN Secretary-General candidates (26 February 2016): https://news.un.org/en/story/2016/02/523172
• For first time in history, selection of next UN Secretary-General will include input from all Member States (15 December 2015): https://news.un.org/en/story/2015/12/518272

Non-UN Sources

• 1 for 7 Billion: 2016 Candidates and Straw Polls
  https://www.1for7billion.org/2016-candidates
  A global campaign supported by organisations and individuals from all corners of the globe committed to getting the best UN Secretary-General.
  

20 April 2026
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-sg-appointment