Michelle Bachelet won't seek 2nd term as UN rights chief amid backlash over China visit

Amid facing immense criticism for her reportedly "failed" trip to China, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet announced she has no mood to continue her second term. major development came as she has been facing massive criticism for her last trip to Beijing where she held a few meetings with Chinese officials. As per allegations levelled by some human rights experts, Bachelet failed to dress issue of China’s treatment of Uyghurs and or Muslim minorities in western Xinjiang.

However, refuting reports that cite China's trip as reason behind her decision, top UN official claimed she h alrey been informed about her decision to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York around two months ago. According to Bachelet, last trip has no link with her decision. During her opening dress to summer session of Human Rights Council on Monday, UN official expressed that she wants to go back to her morland, Chile, where she served as President for two terms. "I am not a young woman anymore and after a long and rich career, I want to go back to my country, to my family," 70-year-old Bachelet said at a brief news conference. "Having been president (of Chile) twice, I have received a lot of criticism in my life. That’s not what makes me do certain decisions," ded Bachelet. 

Report on Michelle Bachelet's last visit will be submitted before her departure 

Meanwhile, Guterres affirmed his support for Bachelet after she faced criticism from United States and ors for allegedly not doing enough to raise concerns about or look into rights abuses in Xinjiang. Notably, she h visited China on a six-day trip, where she met President Xi Jinping and or top officials. "In all, she has done, Michelle Bachelet lives and breas human rights. She has moved needle in an extremely challenging political context — and she has me a profound difference for people around globe," he said. It is worth mentioning Bachelet took up job in September 2018. Barely a few days after assuming office, she h expressed hopes of visiting China and viewing rights situation in Xinjiang for herself. Her current term ends on August 31. According to UN official, she raised concerns about arbitrary detentions and “patterns of abuse” against Uyghurs and or mostly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang and ded long-awaited report will be submitted before her term ends.

With inputs from AP

Image: AP