The new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

The United Nations has appointed a woman who is a survivor of torture as the new High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Michelle Bachelet was President of Chile twice (in 2006 to 2010, and 2014 to 2018 [the Chilean Constitution prevents Presidents serving two consecutive terms, which is an interesting idea]), the first woman to hold that position, and reelected in 2014 with over 62% of the vote, bettering the 53.5% she obtained in 2006.

Prior to being elected President, she served as Health Minister, in which role she reduced waiting lists by 90% and made the "morning after" pill available, and Defense Minister, where she improved pensions, continued modernising the military, and "promoted reconciliatory gestures between the military and victims of the dictatorship, culminating in the historic 2003 declaration by General Juan Emilio Cheyre, head of the army, that "never again" would the military subvert democracy in Chile".

From her Wikipedia bio, she appears to have been socially progressive and financially cautious - "resisting calls from politicians from her own coalition to spend the huge copper revenues to close the country’s income gap.[34][71] Instead in 2007 she created the Economic and Social Stabilization Fund, a sovereign wealth fund which accumulates fiscal surpluses which are above 1% of GDP.[72] This allowed her to finance new social policies and provide economic stimulus packages when the 2008 financial crisis hit the country". She faced political challenges, a scandal around one Minister, criticism for responding too slowly to a major earthquake, continued her predecessor's free trade agreements, visited Cuba (which backfired when Castro criticised Chile), and international challenges - although the OECD invited Chile to join under her Presidency.

In her second term, she fought for - and won - reform of education, tax and reform, and for same sex civil unions, a protected area around Easter Island, improved women's rights (including some abortion rights), voting and political rights. After he son and daughter-in-law were caught in an influence-peddling scandal, she implemented reforms which ultimately contributed to her loss of popularity.

Based on her political record, it seems that Ms Bachelet has been effective, largely popular, and ethical, implementing reforms in response to a scandal precipitated by family members that ultimately cost her dearly.

This former "physician with studies in military strategy" is also a member of the Club of Madrid, the world’s largest forum of former heads of state and government, so she is well connected.

In 2010, she became the first executive director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women ("UN Women"), which had been created by merging

the Division for the Advancement of Women;
the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women;
the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women ; and
the United Nations Development Fund for Women;

some of which dated back to 1976.

An OECD review of the effectiveness of UN Women was largely favourable, and included the following:

"The ability of UN Women to recognize key actors and to work with them to address gender equality and women’s empowerment issues, most often to develop appropriate legislation, policies and frameworks, was a key factor contributing to the achievement of objectives. UN Women’s advocacy, its active lobbying and its role in building coalitions and networks also facilitated the achievement of program objectives.  On the other hand, there were also various factors limiting the achievement of objectives, such as weaknesses in program design, often linked to over ambitious objectives, an unclear theory of change, lack of a results orientation, excessively short time frames and/or limited resources."

Overall, my opinion is that the UN has chosen an outstanding woman for this role - one who is capable, credible and well-motivated because of her personal experiences including being a survivor of torture, well-connected and experienced at fighting against limitations and opposition.

There is a question as to whether the organisation she heads will be effective enough to allow her to realise her full potential:

(1) As an outsider, the budget is, if not adequate, continuously increasing and seemingly significant (to me) - see here (the voluntary contributions give me hope that the USA's cut backs may not be too serious).
(2) Staff numbers have been constant at around 1,000. I found some criticism in 2006 that the mix of nationalities wasn't representative.
(3) A 2012 review by Australia's DFAT, which was biased towards Australia's aims, gave a reasonable assessment, although criticised the lack of follow up, and noted that "effectiveness of OHCHR's work in this critical area is often constrained by denial of access, and by limitations in capacity and financial resources?

In addition, she will be in operating in a world of governments that don't want to admit their guilt or give up their nasty "tools".

So: a great Commissioner, a brave organisation with limited resources, and a savage world.

I wish her well, and look forward to her efforts, and to doing what I can to help her.