Michelle Bachelet accepts the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize in Delhi during a ceremony honoring her global leadership and human rights work (Photo: X | @uchile)
Michelle Bachelet is a Chile's groundbreaking former president was awarded the 2024 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development in New Delhi. The honor recognizes her decades of commitment to democracy, equality and human rights around the world.
Bachelet is the first and only female leader of Chile, presided over two presidential terms before assuming prominent United Nations positions including the founding leadership of UN Women and later as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Michelle Bachelet is among the most influential political leaders in South America, and she has become a global advocate for human rights.
Born in Santiago in 1951, she became Chile's first woman president and the first democratically elected female leader in South America not to have her path to power smoothed by a husband. Her life is marked by resilience, loss and a deep personal understanding of state repression.
She started at the University of Chile to study medicine, but her studies were cut short when her father, an air force general, died after torture under the Pinochet regime; she and her mother were detained and tortured, then forced into exile.
She continued her studies in East Germany, where she immersed herself in socialist politics and later returned to Chile to complete her medical degree. Eventually, her academic studies encompassed military strategy and defense, first in Chile and later in specialized training in the United States.
After the restoration of democracy, Bachelet embarked on a career that bridged health, defense and governance. She became health minister in 2000 and later the first woman to lead Chile's Defence Ministry.
Her presidency, won in 2006 and again in 2014, focused on pension reform, social protection, gender equality, and expanding indigenous rights. Her international work included founding UN Women and serving as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In New Delhi, Bachelet was awarded the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2024, an award from the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. The ceremony was overseen by Sonia Gandhi, who likened Bachelet to Indira Gandhi: Both experienced political upheaval, personal tragedy and unwavering leadership.
The award was instituted in 1986 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust in recognition of persons and organizations who have worked constructively to promote peace and progress. Headed by Sonia Gandhi, the trust consists of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Suman Dubey and Kanishka Singh.
ALSO READ: US Green Card Approved After Long Wait: Applicant Details ‘Painful’ Journey Amid Trump-Era Crackdown
Through almost four decades, the recipients have included such global statesmen as Mikhail Gorbachev, Jimmy Carter and Muhammad Yunus and leaders from South Asia who propelled political transitions.
During the function held at Delhi's Jawahar Bhawan, Sonia Gandhi hailed Bachelet as a leader molded by hardship and resilience. Drawing parallels between Bachelet and Indira Gandhi, Sonia said both women had grown up in the most turbulent political climates, which included repression, loss and exile. Despite personal trials, each emerged determined to rebuild their nations and champion social justice.
Bachelet in her acceptance speech, said that Indira Gandhi's belief in cooperation among nations carries even greater weight today. She reflected that shared global challenges demand empathy and dialogue, rather than division.
ALSO READ: Megyn Kelly Sparks Outrage With Epstein Remark as Teens Declare: ‘I’m Fifteen
Bachelet added that her own political journey was motivated by a desire to improve people's lives a conviction rooted in the understanding that human welfare depends on protecting fundamental rights.
Bachelet said that progress and dignity go together. The experience of living under Chile's dictatorship marked her commitment to building societies in which rights are respected and voices are not silenced. Her speech underlined also why the prize remains relevant as a recognition of leaders standing firm when principles come under strain.
With the world beset by polarization, conflict and democratic strain, awards to figures like Bachelet reinforce the value of moral leadership. The award reminds us that political courage and compassion can still shape national and international futures, echoing Indira Gandhi's vision of cooperation and justice.
ALSO READ: Ajit Doval Invited to Bangladesh as Dhaka Steps Up Sheikh Hasina Extradition Efforts
Disclaimer: This article is based on available reports and public statements. It is intended for general information and should not be taken as official confirmation.
