Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Receives Prestigious Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for Global Leadership and Gender Equality Advocacy

Indira Gandhi was India's first and only woman prime minister.

New Delhi:

Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet received the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development in a ceremony held on Wednesday.

The honor was bestowed upon her by Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party and the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, which administers this distinguished award.

The event was attended by notable dignitaries including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and jury Chairman Shiv Shankar Menon.

During the presentation, Sonia Gandhi highlighted Bachelet's significant contributions not just to Chile but to global peace efforts. She spoke about Bachelet's personal journey through adversity, including experiences of loss, oppression, torture, and exile in her early years.

Sonia Gandhi recounted how Bachelet broke barriers to become Chile and Latin America's first woman Defence Minister, and later made history by being elected President of Chile on two separate occasions.

Bachelet's influence extended globally when she was appointed as the inaugural director of the UN Women Agency in 2010, and subsequently as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"Her work has consistently championed the rights of all people, with particular emphasis on women. She firmly believes gender equality is essential to addressing global challenges. As President, she transformed Chile's healthcare system by enhancing access to primary care, especially focusing on vulnerable populations including victims of sexual abuse. Her policies promoted their rights to health and well-being. Additionally, she improved conditions for women serving in military and police forces," Sonia Gandhi remarked.

Gandhi also noted that Bachelet's comprehensive tax reforms led to more inclusive pension schemes and social protection programs benefiting women and children, while her introduction of quotas increased women's political participation.

"The legislation introduced during her administration significantly advanced equality, rights, and freedoms for all citizens," she added.

In her acceptance speech, Bachelet expressed admiration for India's extraordinary cultural richness, profound historical legacy, and vibrant diversity. She observed that India, as an ancient civilization, has contributed immensely to science, philosophy, and art, and represents a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity.

Bachelet reflected on Indira Gandhi's belief that nations prosper when they maintain harmony with one another. She emphasized that with multiple conflicts and challenges facing the world today, no single nation can resolve these issues in isolation.

The former Chilean President shared that Indira Gandhi had inspired her political journey, which was driven by a desire to improve people's welfare. She affirmed that peace and progress are fundamental components of human dignity.

Bachelet concluded by emphasizing the critical importance of multilateralism in today's world, stressing the "need for working together every day across nations, generations and differences."