Pro-abortion extremist nominated for UN Secretary General

A nominee to be the next United Nations (UN) Secretary-General is an abortion activist; if chosen, this would almost certainly threaten the human rights of the most vulnerable.

Key Takeaways:

• Michelle Bachelet served as president of Chile for two terms, in 2006 - 2010, and again in 2014 - 2018.

• Under her leadership, Chile legalized abortion in cases of rape, fetal anomaly, and risk to the mother's life, despite years of pro-life belief and advocacy; Bachelet also tried to expand access to abortion beyond these.

• As United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, she furthered her pro-abortion agenda.

The Backstory:

Michelle Bachelet, former president of Chile and a widely recognized international figure, has long been linked to attempts to expand access to abortion. Her documented history regarding abortion has been a characteristic feature of both her domestic agenda and her global advocacy.

“I believe that women should legally have the possibility of making their own choices. In this country until now this is criminalised - if you interrupt your pregnancy, you will go to jail. And I believe this is not fair,” Bachelet said in 2016.

In light of her past, Bachelet’s return to the world stage as a nominee for United Nations Secretary-General should spark serious scrutiny — particularly from those who uphold the dignity of human life from conception to natural death. Although her achievements are typically portrayed positively by mainstream media, her track record on abortion is hugely consequential to her career. 

As former President of Chile, Bachelet oversaw a drastic change in a country previously renowned for its robust protection for the preborn. Under her watch, Chile legalized abortion in cases of rape, fetal anomaly, and risk to the mother’s life, going against years of legal respect for the inherent value of every human life.

Bachelet’s attempt to legalize abortion was framed in the jargon of “rights” and “autonomy,” yet led to the collapse of safeguards for the most vulnerable.

Bachelet’s stint as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights bears further testament to her pro-abortion views, including calling pro-life laws a threat to human rights.

Why It Matters:

The Secretary-General of the United Nations position has a lot of weight in shaping worldwide norms, development agendas, and international narratives. When that role is occupied by an avowedly pro-abortion politician, he or she may further reinforce an anti-life vision of “rights” that devalues the lives of preborn children and conscience protections. 

UN leadership often sets the bar for international aid priorities and diplomatic agendas. Countries with strong cultural or religious commitments to protecting life may find themselves gradually pressured to play by the UN’s pro-abortion playbook, despite their moral convictions. Such a situation undermines sovereignty, cultural integrity, and the true universality of human rights.

The Bottom Line:

Bachelet has had substantial political experience in governing Chile, yet political experience alone cannot be the only criterion for global leadership.

The moral worldview of a candidate for a UN or any other global role matters — particularly when it concerns how human lives — born, preborn, disabled, sick, or elderly — are treated.

One must evaluate whether Bachelet’s leadership would promote a truly inclusive understanding of human dignity, or whether it would continue a reprehensible path that leaves the preborn devalued, discarded, and dehumanized.