Michelle Bachetel warns of women’s rights setbacks in Latin America as she campaigns for UN Secretary‑General

Former Chilean president and ex‑UN human‑rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet told a gathering of women politicians in Montevideo that the region is experiencing a "concerning backslide" of women’s rights. She linked the erosion to the rise of authoritarian and far‑right populist projects that undermine the rule of law, cite regressive legislation, censorship and hate speech targeting women, girls and trans people, and highlight the low share of women in parliament (36 %), the gender pay gap, unpaid care work and increased digital gender‑based violence.

At the same time, Bachelet is intensifying her international outreach to boost her candidacy for UN Secretary‑General. After meeting Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula, she met Uruguay’s President Yamandú Orsi and her team is arranging talks with other regional leaders such as Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, while also keeping doors open to right‑wing figures.