Norway congratulates new UN head of gender equality

Norway congratulates Chile’s former President Michelle Bachelet on her appointment as head of the UN’s new entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women (UN Women).  

The UN General-Secretary appointed Ms Bachelet as head of UN Women yesterday. 

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre commented: «Michelle Bachelet has qualities and experience that will make her a strong, result-oriented leader of the efforts on gender equality and the empowerment of women».  

This boost to the UN’s gender equality work is a result of the organisation’s reform process where Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg played a key role. Norway has strongly championed the establishment of the new entity and recruitment of a strong leader.  

Norwegian Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim remarked: «Ms Bachelet is courageous and dedicated. She comes from a modern middle-income country with close ties to countries in both the North and the South. This bodes well for the ongoing efforts in this field».