Opinion by Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly
This year, for the first time in a decade, the United Nations will select its new Secretary-General.
This critical process comes at a time when our global community faces unprecedented challenges, among them: escalating geopolitical tensions, a raging climate crisis; and rapid advances in digital technology which are transforming how we work, communicate, and function as a society.
While the world has never been more in need of the United Nations, the multilateral tools set up to meet these borderless challenges are under immense strain. At the same time, the United Nations – at it’s 80th anniversary – also needs the world, because the legitimacy and efficiency of our work is strengthened when more voices are heard, and more perspectives are included – as encapsulated in the theme I have chosen for this session: Better Together.
Against this backdrop, the 2025-2026 Secretary General selection process is more than a procedural milestone. It is a moment of reflection and an opportunity to renew our commitment to the principles that bind us.
So, what does it mean to lead the United Nations from its 80th year into the future?
The world is looking to the next Secretary-General to provide strong, dedicated leadership to deliver on the three pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, human rights, and development, while adapting the United Nations to meet the realities of today and the challenges of tomorrow.
Beginning on 21 April, the interactive dialogues with candidates offer a unique opportunity for candidates to present their vision for the future of this organisation, and for Member States and civil society to ask questions and interact directly with candidates. These dialogues will be available to watch live through the UN’s Web TV service and will spotlight the vision, skills and priorities of each candidate while fostering accountability in action.
By inviting civil society participation, the UN is signaling that the future of multilateralism depends on broad engagement, not closed door deliberations. It is an opportunity to listen, to question, and to deepen trust in the institution at a time when trust is both fragile and essential.
The interactive dialogues are therefore essential to ensuring a transparent and inclusive selection and appointment process while maintaining the important role of the General Assembly.
In parallel, the process will be available across social media platforms in a way that is accessible, dynamic, and educational.
Because this is not simply about broadcasting information; it is about cultivating understanding and connecting with people who are politically motivated, but perhaps not yet fully engaged in the multilateral sphere. By demystifying the process and presenting it through a youthful, modern lens, we aim to inspire ordinary citizens and future diplomats alike who will advocate, support, and carry forward the work of the United Nations to the next generation.
The selection of the next Secretary-General is also a moment to confront an undeniable truth: half the world’s population are women and girls, yet global leadership rarely reflects that reality.
In 80 years, I am the fifth woman to serve as the President of the General Assembly. Right now, only 22 percent of the GA floor is represented by women Permanent Representatives. And never has a woman held the role of Secretary-General. Our choice will send a powerful message about who we are, and whether we truly serve all the peoples of the world, of which, everywhere in the world, half are women and girls.
This decision is not only about putting SDG 5 on Gender Equality into action—it is also a question of credibility for an institution that champions equal rights.
Moments like this invite us to pause, to reflect, and to imagine what leadership could look like if it truly mirrored the world it serves. A world where women and men stand equally at the helm. A world where transparency is lived, not promised.
The idea of being better together only matters if we choose to make it real; in who we listen to, who we select as a beacon of progress, and who we trust to guide us forward.
The next Secretary-General will be the voice of all nations and all peoples; this choice will reflect not only our world today, but the future we will build together, Better Together.
