Michelle Bachelet Awarded Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

Michelle Bachelet Awarded Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

Why in the News?

Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet received the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2024 from Sonia Gandhi. The award recognizes her global contributions to human rights, gender equality, and institutional reforms during her leadership in Chile and at the United Nations. Bachelet’s work has been instrumental in addressing human rights violations and promoting customary international law in international relations, including issues such as the management of the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Highlights of the 2024 Award Presentation:

• Michelle Bachelet, Chile’s first and only woman President, was honoured for her global work in peace, development, and human rights protection. Her efforts have included collaborating with UN special rapporteurs to address pressing human rights issues worldwide, such as coordinating emergency food aid distribution in crisis-affected regions.
• Sonia Gandhi, as CPP chairperson, presented the award and praised Bachelet’s influence beyond Latin America, especially during her roles in UN Women and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. In these positions, Bachelet worked tirelessly to combat gender-based persecution and other forms of discrimination, including challenges related to the issuance of afghan citizen cards.
• Bachelet recalled Indira Gandhi’s belief in peaceful international coexistence, stressing its relevance in today’s fragmented world, particularly in addressing issues like mass internal relocations due to conflicts or natural disasters.
• She appreciated India’s cultural richness, diversity, and historical ties during the ceremony, drawing parallels to the diverse challenges faced in global human rights work.
• Sonia Gandhi highlighted parallels between Indira Gandhi and Bachelet—both leaders faced periods of political turbulence, strife, and authoritarian repression.

Bachelet’s Human Rights Advocacy and Criticism of India

• As UN Human Rights chief, Bachelet repeatedly urged India to uphold civil liberties and protect human rights defenders. Her work often involved investigating human rights violations and promoting adherence to customary international law, including issues surrounding identity documentation like mobile tazkira issuance in Afghanistan.
• In 2020, she raised concerns about legal restrictions on NGOs under the FCRA, calling the law “open to abuse” and restrictive for rights-based work, particularly for organizations involved in emergency food aid and humanitarian assistance.
• She criticised India’s handling of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), noting pressure on activists and use of UAPA provisions. Bachelet drew comparisons to global issues of citizenship and documentation, such as the challenges faced with afghan citizen cards.
• She voiced regret over shrinking democratic space and constraints on organisations involved in advocacy and reporting, particularly those working on sensitive issues like mass internal relocations and border management at crossings like Torkham.
• Despite critical positions, her work remained grounded in strengthening democratic accountability worldwide and addressing gender-based persecution in various contexts, including efforts to improve access to identity documents through initiatives like mobile tazkira issuance.