The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, says she will not seek re-election for another term, but denied the decision was motivated by criticism of her recent controversial visit to China.
Bachelet made her announcement at the end of a speech to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on Monday.
Bachelet said her decision was motivated by a desire to spend more time with her family in Chile and that she had informed UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres two months’ ago.
During her speech on Monday, Bachelet said an updated assessment of the human rights situation in China would be released before she steps down in August.
UN Secretary General Guterres paid tribute to Bachelet who “has been on the frontlines of the human rights struggle all her life. She has moved the needle in an extremely challenging political context – and she has made a profound difference for people around the globe.”
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UN rights chief in China: walking a tightrope between engagement and risk
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Has UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet's visit to China achieved anything, or has she put her credibility at risk?
Human rights chief ends China visit, saying it was not a probe
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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet ended a visit to China on Saturday, stressing it was “not an investigation”.
Uyghurs in focus as UN human rights chief visits China
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Michelle Bachelet to become first UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit China since 2005 during a six-day official mission.
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