On 1st September 2018, Michelle Bachelet became the seventh High Commissioner for Human Rights in the United Nations after she succeeded Zeid Raad Al Hussein of Jordan. The former Chilean president who is currently 67 years old is a true believer in Human Rights for all, a Socialist and a pediatrician by profession.
Veronica Michelle Bachelet Jeria was born on 29th September 1951 in La Cisterna, a middle class suburb located in Santiago which is the capital city of Chile. As part of her political career, she served as Chile’s Minister of Health and Minister of National Defense from 2000 to 2002 and 2002 to 2004 respectively under President Ricardo Lagos. Bachelet later assumed the office of President of Chile on 11th March 2006 until 11th March 2010. This achievement established her as the first female to occupy this role in the country. During her tenure as president in November 2009, Bachelet created the National Institute for Human Rights with the goal to protect and promote Human Rights for all. She also approved the Civil Union Act legislation which grants rights to LGBT persons in Chile. Through this law, same sex marriages were legalized and gay couples were allowed to adopt children. After her first term as president, Bachelet was appointed the first Executive Director of the United Nations Women (initially known as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women) from 14th September 2010 to 15th March 2013.
Michelle Bachelet was again elected as president of Chile from 11th March 2014 to 11th March 2018, making her the first head of state to be reelected in the country since 1932. Even during her second term of presidency, Bachelet continued to enforce and advance the rights of Gender and Sexual Minorities through the revision of the constitution. In 2016, at the United Nations General Assembly LGBTI Event that was organized by Out Right as part of the LGBTI core group, Bachelet remarked, "Fighting for LGBT rights is fighting for human rights... We must fight for every kind of violence, especially the brutal attacks that on a daily basis pose a threat for members of the LGBTI community and many remain unpunished." After her second term in the office of the president, the United Nations General Secretary, Antonio Guterres seconded Bachelet for the role of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on 10th August 2018, which was confirmed by a vote. Her predecessor, Zeid Raad Al Hussein gave his support and commended Bachelet as one that has all the attributes including passion and deep commitment to Human Rights. Based on her background as a victim of torture and imprisonment, Kenneth Roth, the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch said in a statement, "As a victim herself, she brings a unique perspective to the role on the importance of a vigorous defense of human rights." (New York Times, August 2018).
