Indian-origin worker at UN broadcasts her candidacy for its Secretary-General

An Indian-origin worker on the UN has introduced her candidacy to be its subsequent Secretary-General, the primary particular person to throw her hat within the ring towards incumbent Antonio Guterres, who’s looking for a second five-year time period starting January 2022 as chief of the world organisation.
Arora Akanksha, 34, working as an audit coordinator for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), mentioned she is going to run for the publish of the world’s high diplomat and launched her marketing campaign #AroraForSG this month.
“People in my position aren’t supposed to stand up to the ones in charge. We are supposed to wait our turn, hop on the hamster wheel, go to work, keep our heads down and accept that the world is the way it is,” Akanksha mentioned in a two and half minute marketing campaign video posted on-line.
The video exhibits Akanksha strolling contained in the sprawling UN headquarters, as her voiceover says that individuals who have come earlier than her have failed to carry the UN accountable.
“For 75 years, the UN has not fulfilled its promise to the world – refugees haven’t been protected, humanitarian aid has been minimal, and technology and innovation has been on the back-burner. We deserve a UN that leads progress,” she mentioned.
“That is why I am running for the Secretary-General of the United Nations. I refuse to be a by-stander. I will not accept this is the best the UN can do,” she mentioned within the video.
Last month Guterres, 71, had confirmed that he’ll search a second five-year time period as chief of the world organisation.
Guterres’s first time period ends on December 31 this 12 months and the time period of the following Secretary-General will start on January 1, 2022.
Guterres assumed workplace on January 1, 2017 after a reformed choice course of that included a public casual dialogue session within the General Assembly.
Guterres is the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations and no girl has held the place of the world’s high diplomat within the 75-year historical past of the United Nations.
The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, on the advice of the Security Council, making the Secretary-General’s choice topic to the veto of any of the 5 everlasting members of the Council.
Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, responding to a query on the day by day briefing on the UNDP staffer saying her candidacy for Secretary-General, mentioned “Antonio Guterres is a candidate for the selection process. It’s not for him to comment on other people who may want to come forward.”
“This is a process run by Member States. So, I’m not aware of any issues or problems with that. I speak for the incumbent candidate, but we have no comment on anyone else who may wish to put their hat in the proverbial ring,” Dujarric mentioned.
The spokesperson for UN General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir, Brenden Varma was requested on the press briefing whether or not Akanksha had written to the President on her candidacy.
Varma mentioned the President’s workplace had not acquired any formal communications on this matter.
Varma had earlier mentioned that up to now the General Assembly President had not acquired any notifications of candidacies for the place of Secretary-General from Member States.
He added that candidates have historically been introduced by Member States.
In the video, Akanksha provides that it’s time that the UN cease serving politicians and begin serving individuals.
It is time for a brand new UN – a UN that could be a guardian for refugees, takes humanitarian crises via to completion and will get expertise and schooling within the fingers of all.
She mentioned these concepts should not not possible and don’t want one other 75 years to perform.
It takes somebody being daring, being a primary – first to talk up, first to take motion, first to make a distinction and now first to problem the UN. I’m not ready for the torch to be handed down, I’m taking it as a result of I’m a part of the technology of change the place we don’t simply speak about change, we trigger change, she mentioned.
According to her profile on her web site UNOW.org, Akanksha graduated from York University, Toronto with a Bachelor of Administrative Studies.
She acquired her Master in Public Administration from Columbia University.

Her profile states that she was recruited on the UN to assist with the monetary reforms of the organisation and her work included updating monetary rules and guidelines of the UN and managing the interior and exterior audits at UNDP.
A report in information web site PassBlue mentioned India-born Akanksha has an Overseas Citizenship of India and a Canadian passport.
“She hasn’t asked either country for an official endorsement. She is nevertheless hopeful that her candidacy could shake up the selection process,” the PassBlue report mentioned.