It conducts administrative tasks at the General Secretariat and is responsible for the implementation of the decisions made by the General Assembly and executive committee.

It is generally appointed for a term of five years and may be re-appointed only once.

It coordinates with the member states chiefs working in concerned department and organisations.

Dressler served as a secretary general of the organisation from 1932 to 1946.

[2] Valdecy Urquiza of Brazil, appointed Jürgen Stock' successor by the Executive Committee on 25 June 2024, is the first non-European/American person to be appointed to lead the organization.