Chile: Women’s leader Michelle Bachelet leaves UN

Published on 17/03/2013 00:00

Chile’s former president Michelle Bachelet, who has led the United Nations agency promoting women’s equality since July 2010, says she will return home amid widespread speculation that she plans to again run for office.

Bachelet ended a speech at the closing session of a two-week meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women on a personal note, saying: “This will be my last CSW. I’m going back to my country.” She did not say when or what her future plans were.

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon chose Bachelet to be the first head of UN Women, which put four bodies dealing with the advancement of women under a single umbrella.

He said: “Her visionary leadership gave UN Women the dynamic start it needed.”