The March edition of Blue Smoke, titled “There Will Be a Woman… Soon,” highlights the need for the UN to have a female Secretary-General, as the organization approaches nearly 80 years with only men being elected for the position of Secretary-General. At the end of the annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), Blue Smoke, along with Plataforma CIPÓ and about 60 organizations, signed an open letter urging UN member states to only nominate female candidates in the next election (2025-2026).
Among the high-level appointments highlighted in the edition are: UN Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security (DSS), Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Special Adviser on Responsibility to Protect, and Victims’ Rights Advocate. Also featured in this issue is the appointment of an Independent Review Group to assess the performance of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the process of appointing the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the establishment of the Anti Racism Office.
Finally, the edition highlights the publication of the paper “Strengthening Citizen Participation in Global Governance”, the result of a partnership between the UN Foundation, Iswe, Southern Voice, Blue Smoke, and Plataforma CIPÓ, which emphasizes the importance of social participation in the UN and global governance.
Blue Smoke is an initiative led by the United Nations Association – UK, Plataforma CIPÓ, and a consultant from the Strategy for Humanity to promote greater accountability and transparency within the United Nations, especially regarding elections and appointments to high-level positions within the organization. The monthly newsletter is published in partnership with Pass Blue.
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