UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- The UN General Assembly (UNGA) will have a plenary meeting Friday to approve the nominee of the next UN human rights chief, a UN spokesman said Thursday.

Brenden Varma, spokesman for the UNGA President, said at a daily news briefing that member states will be meeting Friday at 10:00 a.m. in the Trusteeship Council Chamber on this topic.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday proposed to appoint former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet for the key post of High Commissioner for Human Rights.

It remains unknown whether Bachelet will show up at the meeting herself, said Varma, adding that it will "definitely" have a decision on Friday.

The General Assembly used to approve the nominees of human rights chief by acclamation, said Varma, noting whether it will follow the traditional way to approve the nominee this time still remains unknown.

Bachelet served as president of Chile from 2014 to 2018 and 2006 to 2010, and was appointed in 2010 as the first Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women). She also served in the Chilean government as defense minister during 2002-2004 and health minister during 2000-2002.

The UN human rights chief is the principal official who speaks out for human rights across the whole UN system, strengthening human rights mechanisms, enhancing equality, fighting discrimination in all its forms, widening the democratic space and protecting the most vulnerable from all forms of human rights abuse.

The job is currently being held by Jordanian diplomat Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, whose four-year term is due to expire at the end of this month.

The office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is headquartered in Geneva.