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Michelle Bashellet urges ‘urgent need for hope,’ outlines UN80 reforms and pledge to defend UN Charter
Summary
Michelle Bashellet, a candidate for UN Secretary‑General nominated by Brazil and Mexico, used an interactive General Assembly dialogue to present a vision centered on dialogue, prevention, managerial reform (UN80) and strengthened delivery across the three UN pillars.
Michelle Bashellet, appearing before the General Assembly’s informal interactive dialogue, opened her candidacy statement by calling for an “urgent need for hope” and presenting a program focused on restoring trust in the United Nations through dialogue, managerial reform and results on the ground.
Bashellet told member states she had been nominated by Brazil and Mexico and framed her record — two presidential terms, domestic cabinet roles, and senior UN posts including head of UN Women and UN human rights — as preparation for leading a reinvigorated, charter‑driven organization. “I solemnly commit to upholding this mandate of dialogue in all my actions,” she said, invoking Article 33 of the UN Charter on negotiated solutions.
Her priorities: (1) prevention and a stronger field presence to identify and head off crises early; (2) renewed emphasis on the three pillars — peace and security, sustainable development and human rights — treated as interdependent; and (3) managerial reforms tied to the UN80 initiative to reduce duplication, increase transparency and link evaluation to resource allocation and leadership performance.
Bashellet repeatedly emphasized implementation and follow‑up: she proposed independent, real‑time evaluation and stronger accountability mechanisms so that General Assembly decisions and secretariat mandates are fulfilled, not merely issued. She also committed to defending the impartiality and institutional integrity of the secretariat while seeking a more balanced financing approach that reduces excessive dependence on earmarked voluntary contributions.
Member states probed her on specific issues, including how UN80 reforms would preserve field capacity, measures for accelerating SDG implementation, and how she would mobilize finance and ensure equitable senior appointments. Bashellet said she would seek persistent dialogue with member states and would bring visibility and hands‑on engagement to prevention and operations in the field.
The interactive dialogue continued into a second segment focused on the three pillars and produced follow‑up exchanges on climate finance for small island and vulnerable states, early‑warning indicators for intervention, and the representational composition of senior UN posts. The General Assembly adjourned the session with additional candidate dialogues scheduled later in the day.
