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Basic Facts about the United Nations
de Cuéllar (Peru), January 1982 to December 1991; Kurt Waldheim (Austria), January 1972 to December 1981; U Thant (Burma, now Myanmar), November 1961, when he was appointed acting Secretary-General (he was formally appointed SecretaryGeneral in November 1962) to December 1971; Dag Hammarskjöld (Sweden), who served from April 1953 until his death in a plane crash on mission in Africa in September 1961—the only Secretary-General to die in office; and Trygve Lie (Norway), the first Secretary-General, who held office from February 1946. The Charter describes the Secretary-General as “chief administrative officer” of the Organization, who acts in that capacity and performs such other functions as are entrusted to him or her by the Security Council, General Assembly, Economic and Social Council and other UN organs. The Charter also empowers the Secretary-General to bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which might threaten the maintenance of international peace and security. These guidelines both define the functions and powers of the office and grant it considerable leeway for action. The Secretary-General must take account of the needs and concerns of individual member states while upholding the values and moral authority of the United Nations, and speaking and acting independently for peace—even at the risk of disagreeing with or challenging those same member states. He maintains this careful balance each day, acknowledging the perspective of individual member states as he searches for solutions to global problems. The Secretary-General’s travels allow him to meet citizens of member states and witness first-hand how issues occupying the international agenda concretely affect the lives of people everywhere. The Secretary-General issues an annual report on the work of the Organization that appraises its activities and outlines future priorities. One of the most vital roles played by the Secretary-General, however, is the use of his good offices—steps taken publicly and in private, drawing upon his independence, impartiality and integrity—to prevent international disputes from arising, escalating or spreading.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon visits with Syrian refugees at a camp in the Turkish border town of Islahiye. (7 December 2012, UN Photo/Mark Garten)