Her Turn Harvest: Shaping the Future of UN Leadership Through Student Engagement

As the United Nations undergoes the process of selecting its next Secretary-General, GWL Voices, in partnership with the Geneva Graduate Institute and the United Nations Foundation, organized the Her Turn Harvest, a unique programme designed to give students a meaningful role in discussions on the future of UN leadership.

The initiative brought together selected student rapporteurs to develop the Her Turn Decalogue for the Next UN Secretary-General, a set of ten priorities that they believe should guide the next UN leader. The programme combined four online preparatory sessions with three in-person events in Geneva.

Building Foundations: Online Learning Sessions

To equip participants with the knowledge and perspectives needed to draft the Decalogue, students took part in four thematic online sessions led by GWL Voices members.

• Launch Session — Introduction to the programme and the Decalogue process.
• Sustainable Development — Keynote Speaker: Ms. Irina Bokova
• Peace and Security — Keynote Speaker: Ms. Fatiha Serour
• Human Rights — Keynote Speaker: Ms. Navi Pillay

From Dialogue to Decision: The Her Turn Lab in Geneva

The in-person Her Turn Lab transformed these discussions into concrete recommendations through a four-phase collaborative process: identifying priorities, developing principles, building consensus, and voting to prioritize the ten final principles. The session, facilitated by GWL Voices team and Dr. Claudia Seymour from the Geneva Graduate Institute, also had the presence of GWL Voices member Ms. Kate Gilmore, who provided feedback during the process.

Each participant received five votes to rank the proposed principles according to the importance they gave them. Through this participatory process, students established the final order of the ten principles that make up the Her Turn Decalogue. At the conclusion of the Her Turn Lab, every participant signed the Decalogue, symbolizing their collective commitment to the recommendations they had developed.

The ten principles for the Next United Nations Secretary-General included: Champion Inclusive Representation and Intersectional Leadership, Strive for Context-Specific and Accountable Environmental Leadership, Promote Reform of the United Nations Security Council, Prioritize Prevention as the Foundation of Peace, and being A Global Chief Mediator for Peace, among others.

Engaging the Selection Process: The Candidates Debate

The Candidates Debate gave students the opportunity to engage directly with the selection process for the next UN Secretary-General. Participants assumed a variety of responsibilities, including:

• Tracking candidates' statements and policy positions
• Supporting candidates throughout the event
• Assisting the organizing team with event operations
• Asking direct questions to candidates during the debate

This experience allowed students to participate and actively contribute in high-level diplomacy.

Presenting Youth Priorities: Launch of the Her Turn Decalogue

Following the Geneva Candidate debate, the Her Turn Decalogue was officially launched.

Three Her Turn rapporteurs – Peyton Rautzhan from IE University, Inés León Giménez from the Geneva Graduate Institute, and Léa Tricaud, NYU graduate – presented the outcomes of the Her Turn Lab and reflected on the collaborative process behind the Decalogue. They emphasized key themes that emerged throughout the discussions, including the importance of incorporating intersectional perspectives into global decision-making.

The event also brought together GWL Voices members and co-founders alongside distinguished guests, including:

• Ms. Susana Malcorra, Ms. Irina Bokova, & Ms. Helen Clark, co-founders of GWL Voices
• Ms. Cristina Gallach, GWL Voices' Executive Directo (a.i.)
• Ms. Elizabeth Cousens, President of the United Nations Foundation
• Ms. Marie-Laure Salles, Director of the Geneva Graduate Institute
• Dr. Claudia Seymour, Head of Applied Research Projects and Practice, Master in International and Development Studies (MINT), moderated the panel.
• GWL Voices members: Ms. Anita Bhatia, Ms. Flavia Bustreo, Ms. Kate Gilmore, Ms. Fatiha Serour, Ms. Bettina Tucci Bartsiotas

Closing Reflections: Community, Purpose, and Connection

By the end of the Her Turn Harvest, students were left with mixed emotions. They felt a strong sense of accomplishment after seeing their ideas reflected in the Decalogue and contributing meaningfully to discussions on the future of UN leadership. At the same time, many found it difficult to say goodbye to the friendships they had built throughout the programme.

As Ishaan Shah, Global Lead of the Next Generation Fellows Program at the United Nations Foundation, remarked during his closing reflections at the Her Turn Lab, there is something uniquely rewarding about being surrounded by people who share a passion for multilateralism, global governance, and creating positive change.

What’s Next?: From Participation to Continued Engagement

The Her Turn Harvest marked the beginning, not the end, of youth engagement in the selection process for the next United Nations Secretary-General.

The day after the Candidates Debate in Geneva, the Her Turn Decalogue for the Next UN Secretary-General was formally shared with all candidates, ensuring that the priorities identified by young people become part of the broader conversation on the future of UN leadership.

Looking ahead to UNGA, GWL Voices will continue to gather youth perspectives through a series of consultations. These consultations will provide young people from around the world with additional opportunities to contribute their ideas and recommendations, ensuring that youth voices continue to shape discussions on the future of multilateralism and global governance.