In December 2012 the UN general assembly approved a resolution calling for the elimination of FGM.
Ban's successor will still be decided in effect by the security council that will eventually hand its choice to the UN general assembly for approval.
For the UN's first 70 years, the secretary general was chosen behind closed doors by the major powers on the security council, and only then presented to the general assembly for approval.
A Scientific and Technical Advisory Board organise the calls for proposals, are present the selected proposals to the general assembly for approval.
This could be passed by the general assembly without prior approval from the security council.
Such a change could be passed by the general assembly without prior approval from the security council.
"Both the security council and the general assembly have given their approval, and now you have candidates being listed by the president of the general assembly with their CVs.
The bill was passed by South Africa's national council of provinces recently – "our democracy died a little," said the Mail & Guardian - and will go before the general assembly and President Jacob Zuma for approval early next year.
It will be put to a vote for approval by the general assembly next month and is expected to pass.
Before admission to the UN – which depends on approval of the general assembly and the security council – the new state will need recognition from the rest of the world.
That move will however require approval from the South Carolina general assembly under the state's Heritage Act.
