UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that Michelle Bachelet, UN Women Executive Director, had informed him of her intention to step down as the head of UN-Women.
Bachelet served as the first Executive Director of UN Women, which was created in July 2010.
15 March 2013: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that Michelle Bachelet, UN Women Executive Director, had informed him of her intention to step down as the head of UN-Women. Ban expressed his gratitude to Bachelet for her “outstanding service” and stated that her “visionary leadership gave UN Women the dynamic start it needed.” He noted her achievements include new understandings on women’s empowerment, new initiatives to protect women and girls from violence and new advances on health.
Bachelet, who served as President of Chile from 2006 to 2010, said that this posting would be her last commission and stated that she planed to return to Chile. The UN General Assembly (UNGA) created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, in July 2010. Bachelet served as its first Executive Director. [UN News Story] [UN Secretary-General’s statement]