Helen Clark is one of nine candidates for the job of Secretary-General of the United Nations (the UN). The present Secretary-General is Ban Ki-moon from South Korea. He is due to retire on December 31st this year.
Helen Clark was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 until 2008. In 2009, she was appointed Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). This is the third highest job in the UN.
The UNDP aims to reduce poverty and help the economic development of third world societies. It works with countries affected by disasters and conflicts. It aims to protect human rights and to work towards peace.
New Zealand nominated Helen Clark for the position of Secretary-General of the UN. Our Prime Minister, John Key, is supporting her, even though he is the leader of the National Party and she was the leader of the Labour Party. He knows that she is a strong leader.
However, it seems that the UN is not very interested in a woman from New Zealand. There is a feeling that it is time for an Eastern European to lead the UN. There have been four ballots so far of all the members of the UN and she is near the bottom of the list. These ballots just give a preference. They are not the final vote. Next week, the P5 members – US, UK, Russia, China and France – will have the chance to veto any candidate they do not want.
Previous Secretary-Generals have come from these countries: Norway (1946 – he was the first), Sweden, Myanmar (Burma), Austria, Peru, Egypt, Ghana and South Korea. When the UN was first established after World War II, there were 51 member countries. Now there are 193.
Vocabulary
• candidate – a person wanting to be elected to a position
• administrator – boss, manager
• nominated – gave her name to the UN
• ballot – vote
• preference – choice, the person they prefer
• veto – say “no”. If a country uses a veto against her, she is out.
Questions
1. Why was the UN first established?
2. Do you think it has been successful? Can you give examples of problems which the UN has solved or problems which the UN failed to solve?
3. Do you think changes need to be made for the 21st century?