“Never underestimate the symbolic power of individual events.”
POLITICS AND ADMINISTRATION
The men’s vote on February 7, 1971, granted women the right to vote at the federal level. Several different activities were organized at the University of Bern to commemorate this milestone’s 50th anniversary.
Some highlights included the exhibit entitled “Women in the Bundeshaus! 50 Years of Women’s Suffrage”, curated by Fabienne Amlinger of the Interdisciplinary Center for Gender Studies (ICFG) of the University of Bern, and the publication of several different books. One of these was “Frauenstimmrecht – Historische und rechtliche Entwicklungen 1848-1981” (Women’s Suffrage – Historical and Legal Developments 1848-1981), which was published by Historian Emeritus Brigitte Studer together with legal scholar Judith Wyttenbach, as well as a book entitled “Jeder Frau Ihre Stimme. 50 Jahre Schweizer Frauengeschichte 1971-2021” (A Vote for Every Woman. 50 Years of Swiss Women’s History 1971-2021), to which Fabienne Amlinger also contributed.
These activities were wrapped up in the fall of 2021 with a large academic conference at the University of Bern that addressed topical questions regarding gender equality and political participation. The conference was organized jointly with the Federal Office of Justice, the Federal Office for Gender Equality and the Federal Chancellery.
Speakers included Susanne Kuster, Vice Director of the Federal Office of Justice, Germaine Zenhäusern, daughter of the first woman with the right to vote in Switzerland, and Isabelle Stadelmann-Steffen, Professor of Political Science at the University of Bern, who took stock of where Switzerland stands after half a century of women’s suffrage.
“Two motions in favor of women’s suffrage were submitted to the National Council in as early as 1918 and referred to the Federal Council.”
A panel featuring representatives from the realms of research and politics then discussed the challenges that still persist, even despite the fact that women have the right to vote. Other speeches addressed political participation as well as women’s suffrage in connection with political rights.
The event was rounded off with a panel discussion on the question of who should be allowed to participate in the democratic process. This topic was opened up and a discussion ensued on the question of where things stand with respect to the political rights of all individuals residing in Switzerland – in other words, those of minors, foreigners and people under full guardianship.
Early career academics from various disciplines also presented research projects that addressed the topic of political participation from a gender perspective.
“The conference offered a well-substantiated review of historical developments as well as an interdisciplinary, academic and political examination of the current situation regarding women’s political participation in Switzerland.”
Prof. Dr. Judith Wyttenbach, Institute of Public Law
The Institute’s teaching and research activities as well as the services it provides cover every aspect of public law. Its specialties include basic and human rights, constitutional law, general and special administrative law, public procedural law and international law. The Institute of Public Law cooperates with the Swiss Centre of Expertise in Human Rights and the Centre for Migration Law.