The United Nations Secretary-General is the head of the Secretariat and, at the same time, the political leader of the whole organization. This role is considered to be the most influential one within the United Nations.

The role of the Secretary-General

The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council to serve for a renewable term of five years. Under the Secretary-General there are several levels of leaders who manage the daily work.

Beside the administrative tasks, the Secretary-General fulfills tasks which are entrusted to him or her by the UN Charter or by other principal organs. Some examples are

• to bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security
• to raise and initiate discussions in the General Assembly and other UN organs
• to offer mediation services to conflicting parties, and on demand from the Security Council
• to provide the Council with information as a basis for its own initiatives with regard to a particular conflict.

More on the Secretary-General

• The Secretary-General is required to submit an annual report to the General Assembly - a summarized overview of the work of the Organization. It is issued as no 1 in the documentary series Supplements to the Official Records of the General Assembly, Annual report on the Work of the Organization.
• Speeches, reports and press releases, official travel and program, biography and background information can be retrieved from the Secretary-General website.
• Reports of the Secretary-General. Research guide by Dag Hammarskjöld Library.
• Former Secretaries-General. Short biographies of the former Secretaries-General.

The former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld

• The Dag Hammarskjöld Library, Uppsala, holds a Dag Hammarskjöld collection with literature by Dag Hammarskjöld and about him. A survey of this literature is contained in the publication Dag Hammarskjöld Literature. On the 50th Anniversary of his Death. A bibliographic compilation based on the collections of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, Uppsala.
• Biography online about Dag Hammarskjöld compiled by Dag Hammarskjöld Library, New York.

Nobel Peace Prize

Dag Hammarskjöld was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize posthumously 1961.

The United Nations and the Secretary-General Kofi Annan was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2001 "for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world."

Uppsala's Dag Hammarskjöld - a documentary

Uppsala's Dag Hammarskjöld

The memories of Uppsala remained close to the former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld throughout his whole life. This is where he spent his childhood and his years as a young student, and this also became his final resting place.

This documentary about Dag Hammarskjöld's time in Uppsala connects his story with the town of today.

• Produced by: Öhrn Media / Dag Hammarskjöld library, Uppsala
• Year of production: 2011
• Length: 17 minutes