The challenge is for us to reinvigorate the relationship with the Chilean people and to give state institutions new legitimacy. But this is also a universal phenomenon. There's also disenchantment with politics in Europe. Michelle Bachelet More Quotes by Michelle Bachelet More Quotes From Michelle Bachelet We simply can no longer afford to deny the full potential of one half of the population. The world needs to tap into the talent and wisdom of women. Whether the issue is food security, economic recovery, health, or peace and security, the participation of women is needed now more than ever. Michelle Bachelet recoverywomenwisdom For me, a better democracy is a democracy where women do not only have the right to vote and to elect but to be elected. Michelle Bachelet empoweringvotedemocracy As more and more women, men and young people raise their voices and become active in local government, and more local leaders take action for the safety of women and girls, change happens. Michelle Bachelet voicegirlmen Gender equality will only be reached if we are able to empower women. Michelle Bachelet gender-equalityempoweringable It was said that Chile was not ready to vote for a woman, it was traditionally a sexist country. In the end, the reverse happened: the fact of being a woman became a symbol of the process of cultural change the country was undergoing. Michelle Bachelet votecountryfacts Violence ravaged my life. I was a victim of hatred, and I have dedicated my life to reversing that hatred. Michelle Bachelet violencevictimhatred In some places women have all the rights they deserve and in others there are big restrictions - in some countries they even mutilate women. Michelle Bachelet restrictionrightscountry I believe that if you want to fight inequality you have to do it starting at infancy. Michelle Bachelet fightingwantbelieve My message to women is: Women: We can do it. We are capable of doing almost anything, but we must learn we cannot do it all at once, we need to prioritize. Michelle Bachelet prioritizemessagesneeds You have to be doing things that matter - responsibility, but also responsibility with epic and beautiful and noble tasks. Michelle Bachelet epicresponsibilitybeautiful Given political history in Chile, it seemed to me that there was a critical task of consolidating a democracy and creating healthy civic-military and political-military relationships. Michelle Bachelet creatingpoliticalmilitary My father respected and admired my mother and was a person who was always standing by my side, encouraging me to do more and believed in my capacity. So in that sense, my own experience was very good in becoming an empowered woman. From early on, I carried that strong message: 'You can do it.' So I never had any doubt that women can do a lot. Michelle Bachelet encouragingstrongmother One of the factors a country's economy depends on is human capital. If you don't provide women with adequate access to healthcare, education and employment, you lose at least half of your potential. So, gender equality and women's empowerment bring huge economic benefits. Michelle Bachelet employmentempowermentcountry All boys and girls should have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education, no matter what part of the country they live in and irrespective of whether their parents are rich or poor. It is the state's duty to make sufficient money available for the establishment of good public schools. A well-educated youth is crucial so that Chile can continue to grow economically. Michelle Bachelet girlcountryschool As a doctor, when I was minister of health and would go somewhere, little girls would come up to me and say, 'I want to be like you one day, I want to be a doctor.' Now, they tell me, 'I want to be president just like you.' All of us can dream as big as we want. Michelle Bachelet doctorsgirldream I was a woman, a divorcee, a socialist, an agnostic . . . all possible sins together. Michelle Bachelet agnosticsintogether In today's interdependent world, a threat to one becomes a menace to all. And no state can defeat these challenges and threats alone. Michelle Bachelet challengestodayworld Because I'm a doctor, I know when you have an injury it will heal if it's clean enough to heal; if your injury is dirty, it won't heal. And so when you are talking in societies, we are also talking in healing processes, and for a good healing process, you need to make things right. Michelle Bachelet doctorshealingdirty Women's strength, women's industry, women's wisdom are humankind's greatest untapped resource. The challenge then for U.N. Women is to show our diverse constituencies how this resource can be effectively tapped in ways that benefit us all. Michelle Bachelet benefitschallengesway I took a gamble to exercise leadership without losing my feminine nature. Michelle Bachelet femininelosingexercise
