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| United Nations candidates compete for secretary general job in debate – live | United Nations candidates compete for secretary general job in debate – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 8.26pm BST | |
| 20:26 | |
| Should there be an international court to try peacekeepers for infringements - particularly for sexual offences? | |
| There should be a new “compact” says Guterres, without necessarily supporting the court. | |
| There’s applause however for Mark when he asks the candidates why the UN has a system where whistleblowers rather than perpetrators are punished? | |
| Related: UN whistleblower who exposed sexual abuse by peacekeepers is exonerated | |
| Updated | |
| at 8.27pm BST | |
| 8.21pm BST | |
| 20:21 | |
| The Danish ambassador to London has a question: How would you promote protection of human rights as a necessary condition for development and international peace? | |
| Guterres says there are things can be done. The Secretary General has right to see the security council if it appears that major threats to human rights are looming or on the increase. | |
| Massive human rights violations are usually an early warning system of a threat to peace and security, he adds and the UN needs to react to that. | |
| Jeremic says that human rights would be front and centre of his time in the post. | |
| As a young man he fought in the street for democracy and “risked his life”. | |
| He proposes a 50 percent increase in funding for the office of the high commissioner for human rights. | |
| 8.20pm BST | |
| 20:20 | |
| What are they making of this on Twitter? (Remember the hashtag is #SGdebate) | |
| All this talk about "on the first day in office" ignores slow bureaucracy of UN #SGDebate. Can't appoint 44 envoys on the first day. | |
| One of the most straight forward & interesting Qs of the evening on #feminism. #SGdebate participants all confirm support to #EmpowerWomen. | |
| Passion abound from Guterres at #SGdebate #guardianlive - is his passion misplaced though? Talk of 'troops on the ground' unsettling | |
| Looks like the issue of #feminism is a tricky one for ALL three candidates on stage this evening. Go figure. #SGdebate | |
| 8.12pm BST | |
| 20:12 | |
| Guterres says he has no doubt that he is a feminist. When he was elected as a socialist party leader in Portugal in 1992, he introduced mandatory quotas for women and men in all bodies of the party and in all lists presented by it to | |
| “This was southern Europe in the early 90s,” he adds. | |
| At the UNHCR he says that parity has been reached at higher levels. However, he says that there is enormous resistance “within the machine”. It’s necessary to have clear benchmarks and deadlines. | |
| 8.10pm BST | |
| 20:10 | |
| “Are you a feminist Igor?” asks Mark. | |
| Jeremic gets there via saying that he was the first leader in his region to appoint a female defence minister. | |
| From the first day in office, he says that the new secretary general should encourage other states to put forward potential female undersecretary generals. | |
| There has to be a consistent pursuit of policies to empower women. | |
| When you have women taking part in peace processes then the reach of peace is a sustained one, he adds. | |
| He’s also in favour of a new legally binding instrument that would eradicate violence against women. In the short run we need to be committed to existing programs. The we can move to a globally binding approach. | |
| 8.06pm BST | |
| 20:06 | |
| Next question: Do you consider yourself a feminist? | |
| The first of the boys answers: “Yes” (applause). | |
| He believes this election for secretary general has to be a turning point for women in the UN. One powerful symbolism is to actually elect a woman secretary general. | |
| If the member states agree then that would be useful, he says, but it needs to be much more than that to be a turning point for real. Representation has to be more widespread and go all the way through the organisation. | |
| 8.04pm BST | |
| 20:04 | |
| Guterres says it’s not fair to say that there are countries who peace keep and those who do not. | |
| Mark asks: Would it not be a problem for UN and UK troops to be used more frequently in certain countries? | |
| Guterres says that the role of the British army in Sierra Leone was exemplary and the outcome of peacekeeping operations there should be praised. | |
| 8.02pm BST | |
| 20:02 | |
| On to the issue of peacekeepers now, their problems and failures. | |
| Jeremic is asked about his suggestion that they should be “toughened up”. Isn’t that potentially quite dangerous. | |
| He proposes a new generation of peacekeeping operations that would have much more robust rules of engagement and combat equipment, with sea, air and intelligence support if necessary. | |
| “They would not only be able to protect and defend themselves but be actually able to protect those they are sent to protect in the first place,” he adds. | |
| They do need to be toughened up, he says, but if we go on with old 20th century blue helmets that will become more of a “museum exercise”. | |
| 7.58pm BST | |
| 19:58 | |
| A quick flavour of some of the comments below the line here now and it’s clear that the distinct lack of diversity is an issue. | |
| “Is Helen Clark from NZ no longer in the running?” asks Freshnobobster. | |
| Tutut meanwhile says: The UN is a now a shadow of what it was 20 and more years ago.But even shadows are seen.” | |
| They add: “I think a real and lasting solution is to move the whole of UN business out of the US. Soon. | |
| 7.55pm BST | |
| 19:55 | |
| For Luksic, the major challenge of the next few years is the potential lack of development. | |
| He’s also of the view that the world is unable to handle globalisation and some of the manifestations of radicalisation and terrorism is due to resistance to globalisation. | |
| I’m not sure the world is able to handle all the changes that comes with the fourth industrial revolution, he adds. They’re in danger of further polarising the developed and developing world. | |
| Another major worry for him is the series of potential pandemics, especially as the world’s population grows. | |
| He’s also the first to mention wast, fraud and corruption -- something which the UN is no stranger to. | |
| 7.50pm BST | 7.50pm BST |
| 19:50 | 19:50 |
| Jeremic on the biggest challenge of the next few years: Climate change. | Jeremic on the biggest challenge of the next few years: Climate change. |
| Perhaps we are not going to see dramatic effects but if we fail to do it in the next few years it might be too late to address things successfully. | Perhaps we are not going to see dramatic effects but if we fail to do it in the next few years it might be too late to address things successfully. |
| Decisive action needs to take place on the follow-up to the Paris climate agreements, one of the “great diplomatic breakthroughs of 2015.” | Decisive action needs to take place on the follow-up to the Paris climate agreements, one of the “great diplomatic breakthroughs of 2015.” |
| He also proposes a “new deal” for UN peace operations in the 21st century. | He also proposes a “new deal” for UN peace operations in the 21st century. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.51pm BST | at 7.51pm BST |
| 7.47pm BST | 7.47pm BST |
| 19:47 | 19:47 |
| To another question now from the audience: “What’s the greatest global threat in the next 10 years, what role can the UN play?” | To another question now from the audience: “What’s the greatest global threat in the next 10 years, what role can the UN play?” |
| Guterres says it’s the inability to pre-empt conflicts and address them. All conflicts are becoming more and more interconnected. | Guterres says it’s the inability to pre-empt conflicts and address them. All conflicts are becoming more and more interconnected. |
| The biggest challenge we face is how to bring together the parties and potential problem solvers. Prevention is also about global development. The UN has been too fragmented dealing with different things and has been unable to “connect the dots.” | The biggest challenge we face is how to bring together the parties and potential problem solvers. Prevention is also about global development. The UN has been too fragmented dealing with different things and has been unable to “connect the dots.” |
| 7.44pm BST | 7.44pm BST |
| 19:44 | 19:44 |
| Now it’s the turn of Luksic. So, compromise or confrontation? asks Mark. | Now it’s the turn of Luksic. So, compromise or confrontation? asks Mark. |
| Luksic says that the only way to assert your self is to be proactive. In difficult times also you will be the ones then who will really listen to you. | Luksic says that the only way to assert your self is to be proactive. In difficult times also you will be the ones then who will really listen to you. |
| Today everyone wants outcomes. It’s simply no go if you just go around and talk and talk. | Today everyone wants outcomes. It’s simply no go if you just go around and talk and talk. |
| 7.42pm BST | 7.42pm BST |
| 19:42 | 19:42 |
| Jeremic is asked if he agrees or if he sees himself as being a tougher secretary general. | Jeremic is asked if he agrees or if he sees himself as being a tougher secretary general. |
| He agrees with everything that Guterres says, he wants to address Greenstock’s question in particular. | He agrees with everything that Guterres says, he wants to address Greenstock’s question in particular. |
| There were times in the past when UN secretary generals (namedrops Dag Hammarskjöld) faced even tougher challenges. | There were times in the past when UN secretary generals (namedrops Dag Hammarskjöld) faced even tougher challenges. |
| The next secretary general will have a very powerful loudspeaker and should not be afraid to use it. They should be a “person with a spine.” | The next secretary general will have a very powerful loudspeaker and should not be afraid to use it. They should be a “person with a spine.” |
| There is a school of thinking that the secretary general should only act as a chief adminstrative officer and only carry out what the big powers want. | There is a school of thinking that the secretary general should only act as a chief adminstrative officer and only carry out what the big powers want. |
| He or she should increasingly play a more “political role”. | He or she should increasingly play a more “political role”. |
| That’s more clearly so in the case of climate change... less so in terms of peace and security, he adds. | That’s more clearly so in the case of climate change... less so in terms of peace and security, he adds. |
| 7.37pm BST | 7.37pm BST |
| 19:37 | 19:37 |
| Jeremy Greenstock, a former UK ambassador to the UN, has the first question from the audience. | Jeremy Greenstock, a former UK ambassador to the UN, has the first question from the audience. |
| In this campaign, we’re seeing the first creation of a “global public”. Will the next secretary general be tough enough to stand up to the “great powers” however ? | In this campaign, we’re seeing the first creation of a “global public”. Will the next secretary general be tough enough to stand up to the “great powers” however ? |
| Guterres says he sees the secretary general’s role as one of a convenor. Difference between the powers are outweighed by their common needs, such as confronting global terrorism. | Guterres says he sees the secretary general’s role as one of a convenor. Difference between the powers are outweighed by their common needs, such as confronting global terrorism. |
| It’s clear that even if groups of states like the P5 (the UN’s permanent five members) have different interests, the common interests like establishing peace outweighs all else. | It’s clear that even if groups of states like the P5 (the UN’s permanent five members) have different interests, the common interests like establishing peace outweighs all else. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.37pm BST | at 7.37pm BST |
| 7.34pm BST | 7.34pm BST |
| 19:34 | 19:34 |
| What kind of reception is Vuk Jeremic getting? | What kind of reception is Vuk Jeremic getting? |
| He hopes that the whole process, and the fact that we are talking like this, will be of use to the the next secretary general. | He hopes that the whole process, and the fact that we are talking like this, will be of use to the the next secretary general. |
| The world is in flux and it’s going to be a very different landscape for the next UN Secretary General. | The world is in flux and it’s going to be a very different landscape for the next UN Secretary General. |
| 7.32pm BST | 7.32pm BST |
| 19:32 | 19:32 |
| Next question ( a nice easy one): What does President Putin think of you Igor?! | Next question ( a nice easy one): What does President Putin think of you Igor?! |
| “I am sure that he has no reason to believe that I am a good guy,” replies the former Montenegro prime minister. | “I am sure that he has no reason to believe that I am a good guy,” replies the former Montenegro prime minister. |
| On to the broader issue of tensions and hotspots. There are more than 100,000 peacekeepers at the moment.. | On to the broader issue of tensions and hotspots. There are more than 100,000 peacekeepers at the moment.. |
| That tells in itself how many difficulties we are faced with. There are other, more positive things however, and the UN should focus on development. | That tells in itself how many difficulties we are faced with. There are other, more positive things however, and the UN should focus on development. |
| 7.29pm BST | 7.29pm BST |
| 19:29 | 19:29 |
| It’s an election where candidates are seeking to appeal both to the public and the great powers, says Mark. How they feel about each other’s pitches - some lengthier than others? | It’s an election where candidates are seeking to appeal both to the public and the great powers, says Mark. How they feel about each other’s pitches - some lengthier than others? |
| Guteres says there is an absolute need to have “combined” approach to the problems of the world. | Guteres says there is an absolute need to have “combined” approach to the problems of the world. |
| “We have to understand that everything in the world is interconnected,” he adds. | “We have to understand that everything in the world is interconnected,” he adds. |
| “The Secretary General is more than someone who pushes everyone. He needs be a convenor. They have to act like a catalyst.” | “The Secretary General is more than someone who pushes everyone. He needs be a convenor. They have to act like a catalyst.” |
| All the contributions that have come - including from other candidates - have a role to play. | All the contributions that have come - including from other candidates - have a role to play. |