At a time when multilateralism is being tested and must be re-imagined, the role of the UN Secretary-General is of immense importance. The UNSG debate organised by GWL Voices was a unique opportunity to reflect on the kind of leadership needed today — one that will combine bold vision and the courage to act.
Marie-Laure Salles, Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute
Moderated by renowned BBC journalist Zeinab Badawi, the debate was a rare opportunity for members of International Geneva to engage with the visions and priorities of those aspiring to lead the United Nations at a critical juncture for multilateralism. The three official candidates in the room, Michelle Bachelet, Former President of Chile; María Fernanda Espinosa, Executive Director of GWL Voices and Former President of the United Nations General Assembly; and Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and Former Second Vice-President of Costa Rica, debated questions posed to them directly by the audience. Macky Sall, Former President of Senegal, shared a video message with the room.
The fifth candidate for UNSG, Rafael Grossi, Alumnus of the Geneva Graduate Institute and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was not able to attend, but will speaking at the Institute on 18 June as part of the Director’s Global Leadership for Peace Series. Learn more about the event and register to attend.
Over the course of several weeks leading up to the debate, the Geneva Graduate Institute in partnership with GWL Voices prepared a Decalogue for the Next UN Secretary-General with a group of Her Turn Rapporteurs made up of a group of students, including 20 Institute students. Shortly after the debate, the Institute showcased the outcome of this process: a Decalogue capturing the priorities and values that should guide the next UN Secretary-General.
The event brought together distinguished speakers and student rapporteurs, including Susana Malcorra, President and Co-founder of GWL Voices; Marie-Laure Salles, Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute; Inés León Gimenes, Master student in International & Development Studies (MINT) at the Geneva Graduate Institute; Peyton Rautzhan, Master student in International Development at IE University; and Léa Tricaud, Master student in Global Affairs at New York University. The discussion was moderated by Claudia Seymour, Head of Applied Research and Practice at the Geneva Graduate Institute, and explored how intergenerational dialogue can strengthen multilateralism and advance inclusive leadership, with particular attention to gender equality and representation.
The kind of leadership we need now is grounded in humility and a commitment to collective action. If we are serious about new kinds of ethically-guided leadership, we must cultivate our ability to respond, not react. This response-ability requires the capacity to listen deeply, but for this, we must each create and nurture the conditions of stillness and spaciousness in our own lives. This is counter-cultural and difficult in our frenetic times, but essential if we are serious about more effectively serving the world.
Claudia Seymour, Head of Applied Research and Practice, Geneva Graduate Institute
The crucial role of youth in a world where over 50% of the population is under the age of 30, and the underlining of emerging voices was emphasised as key to the future of multilateralism. Olivia Bornyi, second year MINT student and participant in the development of the decalogue said, “Participating in the Her Turn Harvest was an inspiring exercise in engaging with other young voices who are shaping multilateralism from across different academic centres! Not only was the community an engaging space, it gave me a renewed sense of hope that we already have the principled and dedicated mindset to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and reinforce concrete steps towards better livelihoods.”
First year MINT student, Emma Schaber said, “Participating in the development of the Decalogue for the next UNSG together with GWL Voices and Her Turn Harvest was an inspiring and truly meaningful experience of actually being heard and taken seriously as a young person working in international development. I hope for the next SG to be bold and to be pulling the UN forward, while fostering a mediating and de-polarising communication style.”
Rebeca Grynspan attended the event, and copies of the Decalogue were handed out to all candidates to the position of UNSG.
