tl;dr:

Annalena Baerbock is fundamentally unqualified to lead the UN General Assembly due to her:

1. Documented history of disregard for international law and humanitarian principles w.r.t Palestinians
2. Public advocacy for bombing civilian safe zones in Gaza
3. Systematic undermining of UN officials and international courts
4. Conflicts of interest through connections to Israeli lobby groups
5. Abandonment of her much-championed feminist foreign policy and diplomatic principles
6. Perpetuation of entrenched Western dominance in global institutions

Her candidacy threatens the UN's core mission of maintaining peace and upholding human rights. We call for the unanimous rejection of her nomination to preserve the integrity of international governance.

Petition in Detail

Two of the core purposes of the UN as outlined in the United Nations Charter from 1945 are to:

1. Maintain International Peace and Security

2. Uphold Human Rights

These are not supposed to be mere diplomatic platitudes; they are meant to be sacred commitments made in the aftermath of the catastrophe that was WW2.

Should we therefore allow someone who undermines peace and human dignity, ascend to the position of the president of the UN General Assembly?

Should we stand by as the very institution designed to protect human rights and prevent conflict is hijacked by someone who represents its antithesis?

This is no hypothetical question. Unless we act collectively and hinder Germany and the European block from having their way at the UNGA elections, this will very soon become reality.

The Unsuitability of Annalena Baerbock as UN General Assembly President

The new German government under Friedrich Merz has nominated Annalena Baerbock, former Foreign Minister, for the presidency of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. This candidacy represents a profound challenge to the principles of international law, diplomatic integrity, and human rights.

During her time as Germany’s foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock had shown absolute disregard for international institutions, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court (ICC) and conventions such as the Human Rights Convention.

We categorically oppose Annalena Baerbock's nomination for the presidency of the UNGA. Our opposition is grounded in a substantive record of actions that fundamentally contradict the core values of international diplomacy and institutional respect.

A Selection of her Documented Failures

• Violation of International Humanitarian Law: With regard to the genocide in Gaza and the relentless attacks on Lebanon, she explicitly demanded the revocation of civilian safe zones and called for their bombing. This represents a direct and egregious violation of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. Her demand, made both at the UN and in the German Bundestag in October 2024, starkly contradicted the German government's official positions w.r.t. the two other currently active cases under the Genocide Convention: Ukraine vs Russian Federation and The Gambia vs Myanmar.
• Systematic Disregard for International Judicial Institutions: Baerbock has consistently demonstrated contempt for critical international bodies, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC): Her statements and actions w.r.t. Palestine directly contravened ICJ rulings. On the other hand, she feigned outrage at Hungary's dismissiveness of international law and its withdrawal from the ICC, thus revealing a selective and hypocritical approach to international law.
• Intimidation of UN Officials: In February 2025, the German government — with Baerbock as Foreign Minister — threatened Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, with arrest (minute 22:56 in the video) should she speak at public events in Germany. This unprecedented attempt to silence a UN official represents an unacceptable attack on diplomatic immunity and critical fact-based dialogue. The irony of this should not be lost: a German minister who showed contempt for a prominent UN official, now wants to occupy a top UN position.
• Betrayal of Feminist Foreign Policy Principles: Despite claiming to champion a feminist foreign policy based on inclusion and dialogue with marginalised groups, promotion of peace through addressing root causes of conflicts, and supporting demilitarisation, she been a vociferous proponent of armed conflict and war. She has repeatedly justified the sale of advanced German weaponry that have resulted in horrific civilian casualties and a total destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza. She has also systematically demonised and defamed the Palestinian solidarity movement and the advocates of Palestinian independence.
• Erosion of Diplomatic Standards: As Foreign Minister, Baerbock dismantled mandatory aptitude and psychological screening for German foreign service applicants, effectively undermining the professional standards of diplomatic recruitment. Instead, a push for undiplomatic conduct characterised her so-called value-based, feminist foreign policy.
• Diplomatic Divisiveness: Her approach to international relations, particularly w.r.t. China and Russia, has proven consistently antagonistic rather than constructive, thereby undermining potential diplomatic resolutions.

Disqualifying Factors: Why Baerbock Cannot Preside Over the UN General Assembly

The evidence presented demonstrates a fundamental unsuitability that extends beyond mere policy disagreements or dislike of her as a public figure. Annalena Baerbock - both in a personal capacity and as a German government candidate - represents a critical threat to the institutional integrity of the United Nations.

Systemic Risks to UN Institutional Integrity

1. Compromised Institutional Independence: Baerbock's personal and professional connections to Israel and its various lobby groups present a severe conflict of interest. These ties fundamentally compromise the potential neutrality required of a UN General Assembly President, posing an unprecedented security risk to the institution's core principle of impartiality.

2. Moral and Professional Deficiency: Her demonstrated lack of moral consistency, coupled with opportunistic behaviour and demonstrably poor communication skills, renders her categorically unfit for a leadership position that demands the highest standards of diplomatic excellence and ethical conduct.

3. Perpetuation of Systemic Inequity: Baerbock epitomises the entrenched historical Western dominance of global institutes. Her candidacy represents a continued marginalisation of the 'Global South's' perspectives, perpetuating a colonial-era approach to international governance that we should no longer tolerate.

Threat to Institutional Credibility

At a moment of unprecedented global scrutiny, when public trust in international institutions, incl. the UN, has reached its nadir, the potential elevation of such a candidate would sound the death knell for any remaining credibility of the UN.

The UN can neither be allowed to be the playground for opportunistic, morally inconsistent, careerist politicians, nor can it be allowed to be a lucrative haven for domestic political musical chairs of any member state.

We, the people of this world, demand an end to performative leadership and instead call for a sincere commitment to justice, impartiality, and corrective representation.

Urgent Call to Action

References:

• Annalena Baerbock rejects ceasefire in Gaza: https://www.nachdenkseiten.de/?p=107142
• Sales of German arms to Israel between 2003 - 2023: https://content.forensic-architecture.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Forensis-Report-German-Arms-Exports-to-Israel-2003-2023.pdf
• Increase in German arms exports to Israel: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/10/24/german-arms-exports-to-israel-increase-despite-export-ban-rumours
• German arms exports to Israel in 2024: https://x.com/S_Ibrahimkhil/status/1871557676972527768 (in German)
• Statement in German Bundestag by ex-Chancellor Olaf Scholz: https://x.com/Jakob_Reimann/status/1844323292108505505 (in German)
• Summer Press Conference by Olaf Scholz on weapons exports: https://x.com/Tarek_Bae/status/1816177627675394073 (in German)
• Germany's intervention against South Africa's case at the ICJ: https://gpil.jura.uni-bonn.de/2024/01/germany-rushes-to-declare-intention-to-intervene-in-the-genocide-case-brought-by-south-africa-against-israel-before-the-international-court-of-justice/
• Annalena Baerbock echoing Israeli hasbara: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FhQOdbgECM (in German)
• Forensic Architecture's Investigation on German Weapons Exports to Israel: https://youtu.be/UnEgl2RN5tk?si=t8KzuTfxa2ZcEQkX