Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and a renowned global advocate for human rights, has been awarded the prestigious 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.

In a statement, the jury noted, “The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2024 is awarded to Her Excellency Michelle Bachelet for the example and inspiration that she is to women and men around the world of steadfastly striving for peace, gender equality, human rights, democracy, and development in difficult circumstances and her contributions to India's relations with Chile.”

Veronica Michelle Bachelet Jeria, widely recognised for her unwavering commitment to peace, equality, and human rights, has had an illustrious career. She has served as the Founding Director of UN Women, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Chile's first female President, holding office for two terms.

Bachelet's advocacy for gender equality and the rights of marginalised communities has left a profound impact on both national and international platforms. Born on September 29, 1951, in La Cisterna, Santiago Province, Chile, she endured significant hardships during General Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. Arrested, imprisoned, and tortured in 1973, she was forced into exile in Australia and later Germany. Undeterred, she returned to Chile, where she played a pivotal role in its political transformation, eventually becoming President in 2006 and again in 2014.

During her presidency, Bachelet introduced transformative education and tax reforms. She also strengthened India-Chile ties through a landmark free trade agreement.

Beyond her presidency, Bachelet’s global contributions include serving as the first Director of UN Women from 2010 to 2013, where she advanced gender equality worldwide. From 2018 to 2022, as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, she vocally addressed critical global issues, including human rights violations in Palestine and other conflict zones.

Bachelet's dedication to LGBTQ+ rights, democracy, and progressive values has made her an inspirational figure globally. Despite facing criticism, she has remained a steadfast advocate for justice and equality.

The Indira Gandhi Prize celebrates Bachelet’s extraordinary contributions to gender equality, democracy, and development, along with her efforts to bolster India-Chile relations. Her resilience and commitment serve as a powerful example, inspiring countless individuals around the world.