Leadership for Peace at the UN Security Council on 15 December 2025

10:59 AM Wednesday.

From Security Council Report:

In December, Slovenia plans to convene an open debate on “Leadership for Peace” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Former UN Secretary-General and member of The Elders, Ban Ki-moon, is expected to brief. A woman civil society representative may also brief. The open debate will be the signature event of Slovenia’s December presidency.

Rising geopolitical instability, proliferating armed conflicts, disregard for international law, and acute financial shortfalls continue to place significant strain on the multilateral system, and the UN in particular. Against this backdrop, and with the formal phase of the selection and appointment process for the next UN Secretary-General just starting, the open debate plans to focus on the qualities needed for the next Secretary-General to navigate the current fraught international environment.

Among other issues, the open debate is likely to invite reflections on how the UN and the next Secretary-General can adjust to the rapidly evolving global order while preserving the organisation’s unique role and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. 

 

The current UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, will complete his second term on 31 December 2026. In line with General Assembly resolution 79/327 of 5 September on the revitalisation of the work of the General Assembly, the process of selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General is to start with a joint letter from the presidents of the Security Council and the General Assembly. 

 

The joint letter issued on 25 November begins soliciting candidates for the position while also setting out the modalities for submitting and considering nominations. Among other things, it says that the position of Secretary-General “requires the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity and a firm commitment to the purposes and principles” of the UN Charter. The letter invites candidates with “proven leadership and managerial abilities, extensive experience in international relations and strong diplomatic, communication and multilingual skills”. The letter notes “with regret” that no woman has ever held the position of Secretary-General and encourages UN member states to “strongly consider nominating women as candidates”. It also notes the “importance of regional diversity in the selection of Secretaries-General”. 

It looks like this open debate is scheduled for Monday, 15 December 2025 during the morning and afternoon segments. I will do my best to observe for at least the first two hours.

Cf. Should the UN Security Council Vote on a Resolution to Elect Only a Woman for the Next Secretary-General?

End 11:06 AM.