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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is the ninth leader of the world organization. Photo/UN.org
WASHINGTON – The UN Secretary General is the highest position in the United Nations (UN). As the chief administrative officer and head of the UN secretariat, the Secretary General is the UN’s top diplomat, civil servant and figurehead.
The UN Secretary General is a very important job, having a huge influence on global affairs and acting as the main mediator for global crises and conflicts.
Nine people have served as Secretary General of the United Nations. Everything was a success; all of them have controversies. However, there are some that are more successful than others.
Who are the UN Secretaries General from Time to Time? 2 People Come from Asia
1. Gladwyn Jebb
Photo/UN.org
According to humanitariancareers, the best UN Secretary General is Gladwyn Jebb. He was a British civil servant who served as the first Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1945 – 1946. He held the position after the founding of the UN and was the custodian of the role until the first full Secretary-General could be elected.
Acting as Secretary-General in the first crucial days of the UN, Gladwyn Jebb was instrumental in establishing the role of the Secretary-General and ensuring his impartiality and independence.
Gladwyn Jebb oversaw the appointment of the first UN Secretary General – Trygve Lie. Negotiations between major powers, especially the US and the Soviet Union complicated the formation of the UN and made appointing a Secretary General a challenge. Although Jebb only held the position for a short time, his role in ensuring a smooth transition to permanent Secretary General marks him as one of the best.
At the end of the Second World War, the victorious nations turned their attention to creating a world system that could avoid future global conflict. The creation of the UN was an important part of this. As the first person to hold the role of Secretary-General, Gladwyn Jebb played a crucial role in the creation of the UN in the complex and chaotic first days after the war. For this, he must be considered one of the best Secretaries General.
Interestingly, Gladwyn Jebb is the only UN Secretary General who comes from a permanent member country of the UN security council.
2. Dag Hammarskjold
Photo/UN.org
Dag Hammarskjold is often said to be the best UN Secretary General. From Sweden, Hammarskjold had an early career as a diplomat before becoming UN Secretary General in 1953. Hammarskjold is best known for his efforts to resolve many global crises during his tenure as UN chairman.