Contributors to the international campaign 1 for 8 Billion published an opinion piece this week on the Devex platform, highlighting informal and non-transparent practices in the selection of senior leadership at the United Nations.
O texto, assinado por Fred Carver, Ben Donaldson e Nycolas Candido (pesquisador da Plataforma CIPÓ) apresenta evidências de que acordos de bastidores e pressões políticas seguem influenciando a distribuição de cargos estratégicos dentro da organização.
The analysis is the result of research conducted within the scope of the campaign, which investigates how informal negotiations among states—particularly the major powers of the UN Security Council—can affect the independence of the UN Secretary-General and undermine merit-based appointment processes.
According to the authors, although not always explicit, these dynamics create an environment in which political commitments can influence key decisions, limiting diversity and representation within the multilateral system.
The article also highlights that the current process for selecting the next Secretary-General opens a window of opportunity to advance greater transparency. In this context, 1 for 8 Billion has been promoting integrity principles for candidates, encouraging public commitments to independence in appointments and to more open processes.
The campaign brings together organizations and experts from different countries in support of a more democratic and inclusive process for selecting UN leadership. Following this debate is essential to understanding current challenges in global governance and the possibilities for its transformation.
