Lana Nusseibeh, the United Arab Emirates diplomat nominated for United Nations Secretary-General, has committed to maintaining the independence of the office if elected to lead the global organization. Speaking at an interactive dialogue in New York on October 27, Nusseibeh emphasized that the Secretary-General must operate free of influence from any individual country and uphold impartiality among all 193 UN Member States.
Highlighting Article 100 of the UN Charter, which guarantees the independence of the Secretary-General, she described this principle as the foundation of trust vital to the role. “A Secretary-General takes instruction from none and answers for all under one flag alone,” she said, referring to the emblematic blue helmets worn by UN peacekeepers. Nusseibeh’s remarks came during a session convened by the President of the UN General Assembly as part of the selection process following her December 21 nomination by the UAE.
Drawing upon her extensive diplomatic experience as the UAE’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Nusseibeh pointed to recent examples of diplomatic engagement amid complex international divisions. She cited Security Council Resolution 2681, unanimously adopted in 2023 with 91 co-sponsors, which addresses the rights of Afghan women and girls following the Taliban’s ban on their employment within the UN. Nusseibeh co-led negotiations with Japan on this measure, underscoring the importance of persistence in dialogue to find common ground despite deep disagreements.
She also highlighted her involvement in the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2720, which created a mechanism to facilitate humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza. Nusseibeh described such incremental diplomatic achievements—including local truces, prisoner exchanges, and humanitarian corridors—as essential building blocks for broader peace agreements. She affirmed her intention to engage early in conflicts to prevent escalation and to ensure the United Nations is prepared to participate when its presence can foster trust, even if the UN does not lead every process.
On human rights, Nusseibeh reiterated her commitment to defending these principles rigorously and without double standards. She stressed that the UN’s legitimacy depends on consistent adherence to its founding Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “Every commitment the organization fails to fulfill weakens public trust,” she warned, asserting that multilateralism must reciprocate the faith placed in it by global populations.
Throughout her address, Nusseibeh acknowledged the scale of challenges confronting the UN but emphasized that maintaining the Secretary-General’s independence, promoting principled diplomacy, and supporting human rights uniformly are critical to enhancing the organization’s effectiveness and credibility.