Indira Gandhi Peace Prize 2024 awarded to former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet
Michelle Bachelet, the former President of Chile and a prominent global advocate for human rights, has been awarded the 2024 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development. The announcement was made by an international jury chaired by Shivshankar Menon, former National Security Advisor and Foreign Secretary of India.
The prize was awarded to Bachelet for her unwavering dedication to peace, gender equality, human rights, democracy, and development, even in challenging circumstances. The jury also acknowledged her significant contributions to strengthening India’s relations with Chile.
Bachelet, whose full name is Veronica Michelle Bachelet Jeria, is widely recognized for her leadership in human rights and gender equality. She has held several prominent roles, including the founding director of UN Women, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the first female president of Chile, serving two terms.
Born in 1951 in La Cisterna, Santiago, Chile, Bachelet endured personal and political hardship under the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet. After being arrested, tortured, and exiled in 1973, she returned to Chile and became a key figure in its political transformation. She served as president from 2006 to 2014, implementing major reforms in education and taxation, and overseeing the signing of a free trade agreement between India and Chile.
In addition to her presidential legacy, Bachelet’s work as the head of UN Women and later as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reinforced her global impact, particularly in advocating for the rights of marginalized communities, LGBTQ+ rights, and democracy.
Bachelet’s tireless efforts to promote peace, justice, and equality, despite facing opposition, have made her an inspirational figure worldwide. The Indira Gandhi Prize recognizes her exceptional contributions to global peace, gender equality, and the strengthening of India-Chile relations.
