Exhibition in Bern makes pioneers of women’s suffrage visible | Switzerland

(gb / dpo) To mark the 50th anniversary of women’s voting rights, the Hommage 2021 association has opened an open-air exhibition in Bern’s old town – but without a vernissage due to the corona pandemic. As the association writes in a message, the portraits of 52 women hang on the house facades between Mnstergasse, Herrengasse and Mnsterplatz and invite you to take an individual stroll.

Among the women portrayed are Emilie Lieberherr, the first city councilwoman and later resident of Zurich, Lilian Uchtenhagen, one of the first national candidates and later Federal Council candidate, and Annemarie Huber-Hotz, the first woman to head the Federal Chancellery. Two women were selected from each of the cantons. According to the association’s website, many women have also committed themselves from areas other than politics, undaunted and surprisingly persistent. The portraits are on display until June 30th.

Renamed place in Lausanne

In Lausanne, too, the concerns of the women’s rights movement will be made visible on the occasion of the 50th anniversary. On Sunday, the square in front of the Saint-Laurent church was officially renamed Place du 14-Juin, according to a message from the city administration. So far, the square in the city center had no name.

The city administration wanted to remind of the fight for equality between men and women. Specifically, the square is reminiscent of the referendum of June 14, 1981. At that time, the electorate spoke out in favor of anchoring the article on equality in the federal constitution.

The inauguration of Place du 14-Juin was broadcast online, according to the announcement. The ceremony was attended by city president Grgoire Junod, city councilor Florence Germond and historian Pamela Ohene-Nyako as well as former federal ruler Ruth Dreifuss.

–
–