The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News , Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNOG
UN High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet announces that she will not seek a second term.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet announced that she will not be seeking a second term at the 50th session of the Human Rights Council.
At the end of her opening remarks Michelle Bachelet said, “As my term as, High Commissioner draws to a close, this Council’s milestone fiftieth session will be the last which I brief. This Council, for all of the differences of its members, remains central to protecting and promoting the human rights that lie at the heart of our common humanity. It has proven its ability to do that, and I therefore encourage you all to continue to seek dialogue, to be willing to hear the other, to understand respective points of view and to actively work towards identifying common ground, as prerequisites to achieving durable solutions to the challenges that threaten us all. This Council's work is also the richer for the voices and involvement of civil society in all its diversity. I encourage the Council to preserve and enhance their unique contribution and participation in this forum. I thank you”
Shortly after the end of the morning session of the 50th Human Rights Council, Michelle Bachelet spoke at a brief press stake out. “As I said earlier in the in the Council chamber, I will not be seeking a second term after my mandate expires on the 31st of August of this year. Of course, from now on, I’ll continue working as hardly as I should. I mean, I'm going to discharge all my responsibilities as I've always done. And I'm not, I mean, I have to tell you that two months ago, probably, I went to New York, and I had a meeting with the SG where I indicated to him that I was not willing to seek for a second term. So, this is not something new. I mean, it was of course something I discussed with him. He told me he would love me to continue, but I explained to him that because of personal reasons, I need to – after all, I am not a young woman anymore and after a long and rich career, I want to go back to my country, to my family. So that's how the personal reasons,” the High Commissioner said.
To a question about criticisms following her visit to China she answered, “I just told you that two months ago before even going to China, I made the decision and I informed to my boss, to the Secretary-General. So, this has no relation. I always read when people criticize us, I listen, and I think that's part of my life. Can you imagine that having been president twice, I have received a lot of criticism in my life, so that's not what makes me that do certain decisions. This is a decision, and really, truly, because my family needs me there and because my country needs me. I mean, I've been asked not for something specific, but I want to do there. Because I think Chile's living a very important moment in history, so I want to be closer and of course, dedicate a bit of time for my family after being so many years, minister, president, U.N. women, president, high commissioner, I think it's time. It's time to go back.”
A journalist also asked about the report on China “So I'm wondering about the report on China and what this what your departure might do if you haven't given it that date for when it will be released, will you commit to it the released before you leave? Is that the expectation?
The high Commissioners answer was: “Yes.”
For more information and media requests, please contact for more information and media requests, please contact: For more information and media requests, please contact for more information and media requests, please contact: Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or or Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org
Tag and share - Twitter: @UNHumanRights and Facebook: unitednationshumanrights
- Wide shot: exterior alley of flags at Palais des Nations
- Wide shot: Room 20
- Wide shot: Podium Michelle Bachelet
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Michelle Bachelet for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “As my term as High Commissioner draws to a close, this Council’s milestone fiftieth session will be the last which I brief. This Council, for all of the differences of its members, remains central to protecting and promoting the human rights that lie at the heart of our common humanity. It has proven its ability to do that, and I therefore encourage you all to continue to seek dialogue, to be willing to hear the other, to understand respective points of view and to actively work towards identifying common ground, as prerequisites to achieving durable solutions to the challenges that threaten us all. This Council's work is also the richer for the voices and involvement of civil society in all its diversity. I encourage the Council to preserve and enhance their unique contribution and participation in this forum. I thank you.”
- Wide shot: Journalist and cameras at press stake out.
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Michelle Bachelet for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “As I said earlier in the in the Council chamber, I will not be seeking a second term after my mandate expires on the 31st of August of this year. Of course, from now on, I’ll continue working as hardly as I should. I mean, I'm going to discharge all my responsibilities as I've always done. And I'm not, I mean, I have to tell you that two months ago, probably, I went to New York, and I had a meeting with the SG where I indicated to him that I was not willing to seek for a second term. So, this is not something new. I mean, it was of course something I discussed with him. He told me he would love me to continue, but I explained to him that because of personal reasons, I need to – after all, I am not a young woman anymore and after a long and rich career, I want to go back to my country, to my family. So that's how the personal reasons. ”
- Wide shot: Journalist and cameras at press stake out.
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Michelle Bachelet for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “I just told you that two months ago, before even going to China, I made the decision, and I informed my boss the Secretary-General. So, this has no relationship. I always read when people criticize us, I listen, and I think that's part of my life. Can’t you imagine that having been president twice, I have received a lot of criticism in my life? So that's not what makes me do certain decisions. This is a decision, and really, truly because my family needs me there and because my country needs me there. I mean, I've been asked not for something specific, but I want to be there. Because I think Chile is living a very important moment in history, so I want to be closer and of course dedicate a bit of time for my family after being so many years minister, president, UN Women, president, high commissioner, I think it's time. It's time to go back.”
- Wide shot: Journalist and cameras at press stake out
- Journalist: “So I'm wondering about the report on China and what this, what your departure might do if you haven't given it that date for when it will be released, will you commit to it the released before you leave? Is that the expectation?”
- SOUNDBITE (English)—Michelle Bachelet for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “”
- Wide shot: Journalist and cameras at press stake out
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The appointment on Thursday of Karla Quintana as head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic is a key development after nearly a year and a half of work by the UN Human Rights Office supporting the institution’s launch.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM , UNICEF , UNRWA , WHO
The head of the UN migration agency stressed on Friday that Syria is in no position to take back millions of Syrians following the fall of the Assad regime, while there is an urgent need to “re-evaluate” sanctions impacting the war-ravaged country.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNHCR , WHO , UNICEF , UNRWA , OHCHR
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the Director-General of the International Organization for Migration, representatives and spokespersons of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Human Rights, the United Nations Children’s Fund, United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the International Labour Organization.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IOM
Amy Pope, IOM Director General, briefs the Geneva press corps on her recent mission to Syria.
1
1
1
Edited News | IIIM , UNHCR
Syria: ‘Key priority’ is to preserve evidence of crimes – UN investigators
In Syria, new access to evidence of horrific human rights violations means that accountability may be closer than ever – if only proof can be preserved, a top UN investigator said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | FAO , UNHCR , WHO , WOAH
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism Investigating Serious Crimes in Syria, representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization, the World Organization for Animal Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the World Meteorological Organization.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IIIM
Robert Petit, Head of IIIM: opportunities and challenges for justice in Syria in the wake of current events.
1
1
1
Edited News | OSE , ICRC , UNHCR
Syria: UN and partners urge action to preserve evidence of prison atrocities, stabilize country
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria five days ago, hundreds of people have rushed to Saydnaya prison, desperate to find loved ones. Disturbing images from the prison and other detention centers have since surfaced, exposing the “unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured for years,” said Jenifer Fenton, spokesperson for the UN special envoy for Syria, on Friday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OSE , UNHCR , ICRC , UNRWA , HRC , ILO , WHO
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the International Labour Organization, the World Health Organization, the Human Rights Council, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
1
1
2
Edited News | UNRWA
Gaza: “Sickening normalisation” of suffering, amid attacks on people and aid convoys
Ongoing military operations by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in Gaza continue to devastate Palestinian children and families, with mounting casualties and a critical lack of humanitarian aid for the desperate population.
“Local media reporting here that last night, 30 people were killed in this area in strikes” said a senior emergency officer with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Louise Wateridge, speaking to reporters in Geneva from central Gaza.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | OHCHR
Rights experts call for end to impunity for Israel’s violations of international law
Four independent human rights experts have jointly called for the international community to sanction Israel’s conduct of hostilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as well as in the wider Middle East region - including in Syria, Lebanon and Iran. They also called for the restoration of trust in the international justice system through the abandonment of “extreme interpretations” and “double standards” in the application of the universal norms regulating the conduct of war.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNHCR
Syria: needs continue to grow amid highly uncertain situation, say aid teams
The historic power shift in Syria and the still volatile situation two days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime have increased humanitarian needs in a country where nearly 17 million people, including millions of internally displaced, already depended on humanitarian aid before the recent events, UN aid teams said on Tuesday.