Zack on Critical Need for Women in Law; Bachelet on Women’s Legal Progress

ABA immediate past president Stephen N. Zack introduces the 2011 Rule of Law Award winner, Michelle Bachelet.

United Nations Under-Secretary-General Michelle Bachelet, a woman of many firsts, is the recipient of the 2011 Rule of Law Award from the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative.  Bachelet, also the executive director of U.N. Women and former president of Chile, received the award Oct. 5 at 9 p.m. during ABA ROLI’s Annual Rule of Law Award Dinner at the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Bachelet, the first woman president of Chile and first female minister of defense in Latin America, is the first Hispanic to be presented with the ABA Rule of Law Award. Bachelet, who held ministerial portfolios in the Chilean government, introduced gender policies intended to improve the conditions of women in the military and police forces; and implemented health care reform, increasing attention on primary care facilities, with the aim of ensuring better and faster health care response for families.

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Long-Time Champion of Women’s Rights Honored with ABA Rule of Law Award