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
Edited News | OHCHR
At the UN bi-weekly press conference in Geneva, UN Human Rights Spokesperson Marta Hurtado commented on the widespread repression and intimidation against political opposition ahead of the general elections in Uganda.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , UNICEF , OHCHR
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Children's Fund and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF
Aid agencies marked 1,000 days of war in Sudan on Friday with a grim reminder that the conflict has created the world’s biggest hunger crisis and largest displacement emergency. Every day, civilians have been “paying the price for a war they did not choose”, said the UN aid coordination office, OCHA.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
Ravina Shamdasani, UN Human Rights spokesperson, made the following comments at the bi-weekly press briefing of the United Nations on the United States’ intervention in Venezuela.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR
Venezuela: US military intervention ‘far from victory for human rights’, makes world less safe – UN rights office
The UN rights office (OHCHR) on Tuesday expressed concern over the situation in Venezuela following the United States military operation and seizure of President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend, insisting that the move runs counter to international law and damages global security.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , OHCHR , UNHCR
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA
U.S. Mission in Geneva hosts MOU signing and funding event with key humanitarian speakers.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNHCR , IOM , FAO , WHO , OCHA , UNICEF
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the International Organization for Migration, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM
As fighting spreads across Sudan in a dangerous new escalation, "people are scared, people are fleeing their homes," the UN migration agency, IOM, said on Friday, noting that more than 50,000 people have fled attacks and violence since late October in Kordofan region alone.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Volker Türk the UN Human Rights High Commissioner made the following remarks during and Oral update tothe Human Rights Council intersessional meeting on Venezuela.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
New flu variant is surging, but vaccination still our best bet - WHO
Amid an early start to the Northern Hemisphere influenza season a new variant of the virus is rapidly gaining ground - but vaccination remains the “most effective defence”, the UN health agency said on Tuesday.