I believe in the United Nations.
Because the organization can play a catalyst role and be the driving force of justice, equality, peace, stability and above all hope -- hope for a better future and a more united world.
The way I have composed my priorities for the position of Secretary-General reflects the need to make the UN fit to reaffirm its role as a centerpiece of multilateralism.
In order to preserve the reputation and authority, as well as the influence of the United Nations worldwide, management reform is indispensable. After all, reforming a 70-year-old organization is the commandment of the day. This is why management reform is so relevant and represents one of my top priorities.
Good governance is one of the basic components of UN policy, and as such it must be applied and reciprocated throughout the UN system itself. In other words, setting up concrete targets and deadlines for the implementation of management reform means effective resource allocation, performance enhancement, process optimization and control of spending. I also want to stress the need for gender equality and regional representation of high secretariat appointments within the context of management reform.
We must understand to what extent the UN's basic pillars are intertwined, be it security, development or human rights. For the benefit of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and bearing in mind that financial resources are limited, the effects of management reform should be utilized for developmental purposes. On the other hand, I firmly believe that streamlining sustainable development goals with climate change and financing for development will narrow gaps not only between recipients and donors, but will create synergies with increased financial effects for the accomplishment of the targets and goals set up in the area of sustainable development.
No one left behind means that the UN must pay special attention to the needs of the least developed countries (LDC's), the landlocked developing countries (LLDC's) and the small island developing states (SIDS), whose security is under constant threat due to climate change. They should be kept high on the agenda of the Secretary-General.
Allocating more resources for development is the key for overall stability, security and progress. That again will reduce the necessity of placing more money for defense and security of donors on the account of development funding. That's the only way of avoiding a negative impact on global peace, security and cooperation. For this purpose, security architecture represents another one of my priorities.
Equal value of each human life must be the paradigm when addressing and resolving the migration crisis, be it in Europe or anywhere else. It is essential that we mirror the sentiment of inclusivity, solidarity and ingenuity, for we must not forget that the history of mankind is a permanent migration of people.
An inseparable part of the UN Charter's spirit are fundamental human rights and the equal rights of men and women. In a globalized world, in which technologies, products and services are transferable, one cannot say the same about social values. This is the reason why the UN has a daunting task to promote citizen participation, gender equality and education beyond national boundaries.
The battle against all sorts of political extremism -- and especially terrorism -- begins with the respect of basic human rights. The UN has an indispensable role in eliminating all forms of marginalization, radicalization, racism, prejudice, hostility and gender discrimination, which in turn produce violence that escalates into extremism.
Human-centered development must be recognized as a universal value and the entire UN system -- including the specialized agencies -- should synchronize and coordinate their activities for advancing this cause.
To avoid the danger of running into a vicious cycle when it comes to, on the one hand, fighting terrorism, ethnic cleansing, genocide and all other forms of violence, and on the other fighting poverty, pandemics and global warming, preventive diplomacy must play a key role in the UN's activities. Together with other multilateral bodies, the UN must be at the forefront of the multi-stakeholder approach in order to cope with these global challenges. Promoting partnerships and mediation will also contribute to a strengthened role and position of the UN worldwide.
In my belief, the position of UN Secretary-General is all but a routine task; it rather requires passion, dedication, commitment and sacrifice. The role of the Secretary-General derives from the UN Charter, and the person who holds this extraordinary position must understand that the navigation of the organization is with Member States, which means the General Assembly and the Security Council. Holding the steering wheel in a stable position as well as having a fit crew is a prerequisite for moving the United Nations in the right direction in such turbulent times.
This post is part of a series produced by The Huffington Post regarding the selection and appointment of the next Secretary-General of the United Nations. A new Secretary-General will take office on January 1, 2017, and each of the declared candidates for the position was invited to participate in this blog series. The President of the General Assembly noted that, this year, the selection process will have more transparency than ever before. The declared candidates for the position are listed by the UN here. To see all the posts in the series, visit here.