Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet was on Wednesday awarded the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development 2024.
The award, presented by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, recognizes Bachelet’s outstanding contributions to human rights, peace, and equality.
Bachelet’s tireless efforts to promote gender equality, democracy, and development have made her an inspirational figure globally. Her commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, women’s empowerment, and marginalized communities has left a lasting impact on Chile and the world.
“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,” the jury statement read.
Bachelet, who served as Chile’s first female President from 2006-2010 and 2014-2018, has held key positions, including Founding Director of UN Women and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her leadership has strengthened India-Chile relations, including the signing of a free trade agreement in 2006.