The Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo, received the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, at the Ombudsman’s headquarters on Wednesday. During the meeting, they discussed current human rights issues and pledged to further strengthen the ties of cooperation between the institutions they represent.
Among the issues addressed was the impact that the war in Ukraine is having on the millions of people who have had to seek refuge in other countries.
The Ombudsman also commented on the main points contained in the mandate approved by the Congress of Deputies for the institution to create an independent commission to draw up a report on allegations of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Ángel Gabilondo explained to Michelle Bachelet that with this action the Ombudsman is fulfilling his constitutional obligation to defend fundamental rights, and very specifically the rights of children and adolescents.
Michelle Bachelet took office as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in September 2018, and previously served two terms as President of Chile (2006-2010 and 2014-2018). She is currently in Madrid to participate in the summit ‘Women’s Bridges. Proposals from the South for global change’, organised by the Women for Africa Foundation at the UNED campus on 19 and 20 May.
