The former New Zealand Prime Minister didn't shy away from the problems the UN faces, but said she believes she's pragmatic and decisive enough to deal with them.
And, as Lorna Shaddick reports from UN Headquarters in New York, she frequently referenced her New Zealand background as she made her case.
IN: UPSOT Clark in Maori
OUT: SOC
DUR: 02.51
Script:
UPSOT Maori proverb (phonetically transcribed)
He a-ha, te maia-nui, au tea - what is the most important thing in the world? He tamata, he tamata, he tamata, it is people, it is people it is people.
A Maori proverb to end her vision statement… Helen Clark told the UN General Assembly - representatives from 193 countries - that being a New Zealander makes her uniquely qualified to become the world's top diplomat:
SOT Helen Clark
Coming from New Zealand shapes who i am and what I have to offer. I come from a highly culturally diverse country in a region of great diversity.
She was grilled for two hours by ambassadors from around the world on issues ranging from women's rights to climate change, the Middle East to the refugee crisis - facing, the General Assembly president said at the end, more questions than any other candidate so far.
She began by touting the UN's successes…
SOT Helen Clark
The UN has contributed to largely ending conflicts between nations. It has deepened respect for human rights including gneder euqality.
...but then she said it needs to change if it's to stay credible and relevant.
That change, she implied, must come in various forms - firstly, in internal processes. She said she'd received feedback that the UN could be clunky and clumsy. Citing the recent scandal of peacekeepers involved in sexual abuse as an example, she said the organisation could act more decisively:
SOT Helen Clark
The UN has tremendous convening power. I think in the court of public opinion it could be seen to act more decisively and that includes on reputational risk issues. These issues have to be dealt with quickly and decisively.
Responding to a question from Japan about the Security Council's structure, she said it did indeed need a re-think and that would be a priority for her if elected.
SOT Helen Clark
I do think that multilateral institutions need to review governance in order to remain relevant, credible and legitimate.
And on the issue of climate change, she said coming from the Pacific meant the problems of small island nations were ones she knew very well - and that reducing emissions is just part of the problem:
SOT Helen Clark
What is absolutely critical is the adaption for those who are on the front line of it now. Adaptation is a critical need and supporting countries to access all sources of finance to support adaptation to this threat I see as a top priority.
But things turned a bit awkward when the time came for the Australian representative to ask his question - but then didn't. Ms. Clark and those in the room laughed the moment off, but it does come as the former Australian PM Kevin Rudd is deciding whether or not to throw his hat in the ring.
Ms. Clark is a serious contender, having run the UN Development Programme for 7 years - but an informal convention within the UN dictates the post should go to someone from Eastern Europe this time round. There's no knowing whether that rule will indeed be followed - and there's no formal timescale for deciding when the successful candidate, decided by the Permanent 5 members of the Security Council, will eventually be announced.
Lorna Shaddick, New York 