Andres Oppenheimer
Former Chilean President
Her
In an interview for a soon-to-be aired TV show, I asked Bachelet how she expects to advance the cause of women's rights with board members such as
Bachelet responded that the U.N. Women executive board was elected by U.N. member countries, and that she, as U.N. Women's executive director, "will work with all countries that have been elected to this executive board. We hope to have the best relations with all member nations, and seek that all countries of the world, absolutely all, be able to improve women's conditions."
But will you be able to denounce states that oppress women when they sit on your executive committee? I asked. She said that "there are thousands of different problems ... In some countries, we will be able to advance more rapidly on some issues, and in others it may take more time. But I am persistent, patient and very optimistic."
She added, "What's important is to be able to work with the respect that we owe to all member nations, but also complying with the resolution of member nations stating that U.N. Women's task is to improve women's conditions all over the world."
But isn't there a double standard at the U.N. when it focuses on abuses against women in relatively weak countries such as
"We will work with all countries in ways of obtaining results," she responded. "And that means, just like when one is president of a country, that one picks priority issues, the most suited strategies, to obtain results."
She added that one of her top priorities will be to "generate leaderships" by supporting people who are fighting to advance women's rights everywhere.
Asked whether there is still a "macho" culture in
"But I think that we still have machismo, because we still have very few women heading big banks, or heading other big companies, or in areas such as physics, mathematics or science," she said.
Asked whether U.N. Women won't become like the
My opinion: Bachelet has a distinguished record on women's rights issues. During her presidency in
She was rightly criticized for not having been a more forceful defender of universal rights abroad -- she made an official visit to inaugurate a book fair in
I hope that she makes waves in her new job, and that she won't succumb to the U.N. bureaucracy and its political shenanigans. If she makes big headlines, it will be the best sign that she's changing things.
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(C) 2010 Andres Oppenheimer