High Commissioner’s messages

Building back better with public participation

Having different voices at the table from all walks of life, and empowering them to have an impact in decision-making is critical to addressing inequalities. We cannot Build back better without public participation – UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet.


Opening statement by HC Michelle Bachelet at 44th session of the Human Rights Council

Opening statement by HC Michelle Bachelet at 44th session of the Human Rights Council


Coronavirus impact on human rights

"Put Human Rights at the centre of CoronavirusOutbreak response" – UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet urges States. Governments must act to reduce negative consequences on people of measures designed to impede spread of COVIDー19.


Emergency Measures

“Emergency powers should not be a weapon governments can wield to quash dissent or control the population” – UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet calls on Governments to ensure #HumanRights are not violated under the guise of exceptional or emergency measures for #COVID19.


HC Bachelet Human Rights Council briefing on COVID 19

UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet calls for urgent and detailed action to prevent the OVID-19 pandemic from creating even wider inequalities and extensive suffering.


COVID 19 Imprisonment, a measure of last resort

UN Human Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet urges Governments to act now to prevent #COVID19 devastating the health of people in detention and other closed facilities, as part of global efforts to contain the pandemic.


Statement of HC Michelle Bachelet on Human Rights Day 2019

Statement by HC Michelle Bachelet on HRD 2019: This has been a year of tremendous activism – notably by young people. It is particularly fitting that this year we mark Human Rights Day during the crucial UN conference in Madrid to uphold climate justice. We owe a debt of gratitude to all those millions of children, teenagers and young adults who have been standing up and speaking out more and more loudly about the crisis facing our planet. Rightly, these young people are pointing out that it is their future which is at stake, and the future of all those who have not yet even been born. It is they who will have to bear the full consequences of the actions, or lack of action, by the older generations who currently run governments and businesses, the decision-makers on whom the future of individual countries, regions and the planet as whole depends.


International Day in Support of victims of Torture 2018​ A strong appeal by the UN High Commissioner


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