Photo: Michele Bachelet
The Woman who will lead the recently created United Nations Women Agency (UN Women) was appointed today. As predicted by AfroAmerica Network on July 2, 2010 (see our article “UN WOMEN BORN” ), Michelle Bachelet, the former President of Chile came ahead defeating several candidates. The candidates that had been put forward came from at least eight countries from the South, including Tunisia, Chile, Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Malaysia.
In the recent days, the Rwandan Government had pushed hard and engaged powerful lobby groups to propel the Rwandan Foreign Minister, Ms. Louise Mushikiwabo at the top of the list. During the meeting between Rwandan Dictator General Paul Kagame and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in Spain in July 2010, Ms. Mushikiwabo’s candidacy was on the agenda, but was not discussed for two reasons: the damning UN Human Rights Report accusing Tutsi extremists leading Rwanda of genocide against Rwandan and Congolese Hutus, and the decision by Spanish Government President Zapatero to shun General Paul Kagame (see our articles “Paul Kagame shunned by Spanish President Zapatero here, “IS MDG STILLBORN here” and “UN Accuses PAUL Kagame and His Army of Genocide” here).
Chile former President Michele Bachelet, supported by both France and the United States has been the leading candidate after the elimination of candidates from the West, especially after the UNICEF position she wanted was given to the former US White House Special Envoy William Anthony Kirsopp Lake, aka Tony Lake in March 2010.
The failure of Rwanda to secure the position for Ms. Louise Mushikiwabo is a major blow, as Paul Kagame had sought to get rid of her, for her self-styled, sometimes undiplomatic approach to major global and bilateral issues. She is ofter accused of being respinsible for the deterioration in the relations with major international players especially South Africa over the attempt assassination of Rwandan exiled General Kayumba Nyamwasa, United Kingdom over the banning of BBC to broadcast in Rwanda, and the US over the abusive imprisonment of the US Lawyer Peter Erlinder (see our article “Rwandan Foreign Affairs Mushikiwabo on the Way Out?” of July 10, 2010).
UN Women, created in July 2010 after four years of the usual politicking, wrangling and intrigues characteristic of the UN, has merged four UN agencies and offices: the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues, and the UN International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW).
Speaking to the media to announce the appointment of Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said: “UN Women will promote the interests of women and girls across the globe, Ms. Bachelet brings to this critical position a history of dynamic global leadership, highly honed political skills and uncommon ability to create consensus and focus among UN agencies and many partners in both the public and private sector. I’m confident that under her strong leadership we can improve the lives of millions of women and girls throughout the world.”
©Copyright AfroAmerica Network, 2010
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