Smt. Sonia Gandhi said- Your Excellency Madame Michelle Bachelet, Former President of Chile; Shri Mallikarjun Kharge Ji, Shri Shivshankar Menon, Chairperson of the Jury for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development; Members of the Jury, Distinguished Guests…. The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development was instituted in 1985 in the memory of one of the most extraordinary women leaders of our time. The award commemorates Indira Gandhi’s monumental contributions by celebrating women, men and institutions that have worked towards social development, peace, sustainability and numerous other causes. It reminds us that even in the times of strife, there are those who fight for progress, justice and the wellbeing of humankind.
Reshaped our country with her
As India’s first and only woman Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi reshaped our country with her policies dedicated to ameliorating poverty, deprivation, conflict and inequality. She once said and I quote “Peace we want because there is another war to fight- against poverty, disease and ignorance.” Her work reflected these beliefs, that everyone has the right to live without oppression, prejudice, poverty and violence. The breadth and depth of her accomplishments continue to be recalled and admired in India and across the world. As a leader with a compassionate heart, a deep love for her people, a fierce commitment to human rights and an unflinching faith in non-violence – her legacy continues to inspire countless people. Today, I feel privileged to be able to say a few words on the life of another extraordinary, inspiring leader whom we are honouring.
Transformation into a democracy
Former President Michelle Bachelet has seen at first hand, loss, oppression, torture and exile in her early years. It is a remarkable coincidence how both these two women were born and raised in times of strife. Their country, their people, their family and they themselves were victims of subjugation. Madame Bachelet found her way back to Chile, facing setbacks while also witnessing her country’s transformation into a democracy. As a trained medical professional, she worked with the Ministry of Health, later serving as the Health Minister in 2000. She continued to break barriers, becoming Chile and Latin America’s first female Defence Minister – and made history when she was elected President of her country on two separate occasions. As Menon has just said, Madame Bachelet’s influence extended far beyond the borders of Chile and Latin America, when she was appointed as the first director of UN Women Agency in 2010 and later as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Her work has been rooted in efforts to ensure the rights of all, but particularly of women. She believes that gender equality is imperative to resolving all that afflicts our world. She has said and I quote, “We simply can no longer afford to deny the full potential of one half of the population. The world needs to tap into the talent and wisdom of women. Whether the issue is food security, economic recovery, health, or peace and security, the participation of women is needed now more than ever.
Military and police forces
As President, she reformed her country’s healthcare system by improving access to primary care facilities, targeting her government’s policies towards vulnerable sections such as victims of sexual abuse, promoting their rights to good health and well-being. She was also responsible for improving the conditions and treatment of women in the military and police forces. Her far-reaching tax reforms resulted in more inclusive pension schemes and social protection programmes for women and children, and the adoption of quotas to increase women’s political participation. Legislations introduced by her government have done much to promote equality, rights and freedoms to all.
So, it is indeed an honour for the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust to confer the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development- 2024 on President Michelle Bachelet who epitomizes the very essence of Indira Gandhi’s life and work. And now all of us here are looking forward to hearing Madame Bachelet, and it is with great-great pleasure that I invite her to address us.
