WORLD New U.N. human rights chief approved
UNITED NATIONS — Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet's unanimous approval as the next U.N. human rights chief on Friday sparked a sharp exchange between the United States and several key opponents over rights abuses — a foretaste of some of the issues Bachelet will confront.
With a bang of his gavel, General Assembly President Miroslav Lajcak gave official approval by acclamation to Secretary-general Antonio Guterres' selection of Bachelet. Diplomats from the U.N.'S 193 member states burst into applause.
"Deeply humbled and honored to announce my acceptance as the @UN'S new High Commissioner for Human Rights. I thank Secretary General @antonioguterres and the General Assembly for entrusting me this important task," Bachelet tweeted shortly after the assembly's approval.
Guterres then touted Bachelet's qualifications: the first female president of Chile, first head of the gender equality agency known as UN Women, "a survivor of brutality" by a Chilean dictator, and a physician who understands people's thirst for health and economic and social rights.
She has also "lived under the darkness of dictatorship," he said.
Bachelet's father was imprisoned for treason for opposing the coup that ousted Marxist President Salvador Allende in September 1973. She and her mother were tortured in a secret prison for two weeks before they fled into exile. Her father, Gen. Alberto Bachelet, died of cardiac arrest following months of torture.
Guterres told reporters Bachelet will take office "at a time of grave consequence for human rights."
"Hatred and inequality are on the rise," he said. "Respect for international humanitarian and human rights law is on the decline. Space for civil society is shrinking. Press freedoms are under pressure."
But some of the pressures that Bachelet will face were immediately evident in several speeches following her approval by the General Assembly.
U.S. Minister-counselor Stefaine Amadeo, speaking on behalf of the U.N.'S host country, said "it is incumbent" on Bachelet to avoid what the United States called the failure of the U.N. human rights system.