Former Chilean President to receive lifetime achievement award

Michelle Bachelet honored for her commitment to women’s and children’s rights in Chile and internationally.

Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet is set to receive the International Gabarrón Lifetime achievement award for her past and continued commitment to women’s and children’s rights, the foundation announced on Tuesday.

Bachelet, who was president of Chile from 2006 to 2010, is currently the head UN Women.

“After evaluating all of the different proposals, the jury unanimously chose Bachelet for her trajectory and her current role in the U.S.,” Juan Gabarrón, Director of the New York branch of the foundation told The Santiago Times.

The jury named Bachelet’s “continued defense of women’s and children’s rights, promoting innovative political and economic reforms in the social system of her country from the positions she held in the Chilean government,” as reasons for her selection. “President Bachelet, through the formation of UN Women, she maintains and expands her social commitment all over the world, improving the lives of thousands of women and children, while promoting gender equality and children’s education,” the jury said in a statement.

The Gabarrón Foundation, founded in May of 2001 by the family of Spanish artist Cristobal Gabarrón, seeks to award, “promote the cultural wealth and identity of both Spain and America, as well as the legacy of those lands and their peoples,” the organization said in a statement. As such, the foundation recognizes innovative thinkers across a variety of fields. Besides lifetime achievement awards, they award notable contributions to visual arts, performing arts, science and research, sports, economics, literature, thought and humanities, and restoration and conservation.

Bachelet was selected from 21 candidates from Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Chile, China, the U.S, Spain, France, England, Mexico, Peru, Russia and Uruguay. On Nov. 27, she and nine others will be awarded Cristóbal Gabarrón original work in a ceremony at the foundation’s New York City branch.
http://www.santiagotimes.cl/chile/human-rights-a-law/25366-former-chilean-president-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-award