Arora Akanksha, 34, works as an audit coordinator for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
United Nations:
An Indian-origin employee at the UN has announced her candidacy to be its next Secretary General, the first person to throw her hat in the ring against incumbent Antonio Guterres, who is seeking a second five-year term starting in January 2022 as head of the world organization.
Arora Akanksha, 34, who works as an audit coordinator for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), said she will run for the post of the world’s top diplomat and launched her #AroraForSG campaign this month.
“People in my position are not supposed to confront those in charge. We are supposed to wait our turn, get on the hamster wheel, go to work, keep our heads down and accept that the world is the way it is. “Ms Akanksha said in a two and a half minute campaign video posted online.
The video shows Ms. Akanksha walking inside the massive UN headquarters, while her voiceover says that the people who have come before her “have not held the UN to account.”
“For 75 years, the UN has failed to deliver on its promise to the world: refugees have not been protected, humanitarian aid has been minimal, and technology and innovation have taken a back seat. We deserve a UN that leads progress.” she says.
“That is why I am running for Secretary General of the United Nations. I refuse to be a bystander. I will not accept that this is the best the UN can do,” he says in the video.
Last month Antonio Guterres, 71, had confirmed that he will seek a second five-year term as head of the world organization.
Guterres’ first term ends on December 31 of this year and the term of the next Secretary General will begin on January 1, 2022.
Guterres took office on January 1, 2017 after a reformed selection process that included an informal public dialogue session at the UN General Assembly.
Antonio Guterres is the ninth Secretary-General of the United Nations and no woman has served as the world’s top diplomat in the 75-year history of the United Nations.
The Secretary General is appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council, which makes the selection of the Secretary General subject to the veto of any of the five permanent members of the Council.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the Secretary-General, responding to a question in the daily briefing about UNDP staff announcing their candidacy for Secretary-General, said: “Antonio Guterres is a candidate for the selection process. People who want to come forward.”
“This is a Member State-led process. Therefore, I am not aware of any issues or problems with that. I speak on behalf of the incumbent candidate, but we have no comment on anyone else who wishes to put their hat on the proverbial ring. Dujarric said.
The spokesman for the president of the UN General Assembly, Volkan Bozkir, Brenden Varma, was asked at the press conference if Arora Akanksha had written to the president about his candidacy.
Varma said the president’s office had not received any formal communication on this matter.
Mr. Varma had previously said that so far the President of the General Assembly had not received any notification of nominations for the post of Secretary General from the Member States.
He added that traditionally Member States have put forward candidates.
In the video, Ms. Akanksha adds that it is time for “the UN to stop serving politicians and start serving the people.”
“It is time for a new united nation, a UN that is a guardian for refugees, brings humanitarian crises to an end and puts technology and education in the hands of all,” he says.
He also says that these ideas are not impossible and they don’t need another 75 years to carry them out.
“It takes someone to be bold, to be first: first to speak, first to act, first to make a difference and now first to challenge the UN. I’m no longer waiting for the torch to be transmitted, I ‘take it because I am part of the generation of change where we not only talk about change, we do it, “he says.
He also thanked followers on Twitter and urged them to vote.
Thanks for your support! Go to https://t.co/Gb2t2vrh3L and vote for a #UNThatWorks. We, the people, are more powerful than any system. pic.twitter.com/nVzS6hYHuo
– Arora Akanksha (@ arora4people) February 12, 2021
According to her profile on her UNOW.org website, Arora Akanksha graduated from York University, Toronto with a Bachelor’s Degree in Administrative Studies.
He received his Master of Public Administration from Columbia University.
Her profile indicates that she was hired at the UN to assist with the organization’s financial reforms and her work included updating UN financial regulations and rules and managing UNDP internal and external audits.
A report on the news site PassBlue said that Arora Akanksha, who was born in India, has an overseas Indian citizenship and a Canadian passport.
She has not asked any of the countries for official endorsement. However, he is hopeful that his candidacy could revolutionize the selection process, according to the report.
.
