Emilie Lieberherr

Only in February 1971 did women gain the right to vote in Switzerland’s federal elections. Even then, it was not until 1990 that women gained full voting rights. Much of this progress was due to the help of feminist and political activist Emilie Lieberherr. 

Emilie Lieberherr was one of the leading figures in Switzerland's women’s suffrage movement. From leading marches to public speaking, Lieberherr worked tirelessly to have the Swiss government grant women the right to vote. Recognizing injustices and discrimination faced by Swiss women, Lieberherr championed feminism and women’s suffrage and dedicated herself to the fight towards equal rights. 

This pioneering figure was originally from Zurich and had significant impacts both in the broad national Swiss setting and within Zurich. Lieberherr was one of Switzerland’s best-known politicians and was the first female city councilor of Zurich. While in office, Lieberherr advocated for supervised injection sites and the medically controlled distribution of heroin in the 1990s, when many citizens of Zurich were facing severe cases of addiction. Lieberherr worked against the stigma of drug addiction, co-pioneering the four-pillar model of Swiss drug policy (read more about the four-pillar model in a previous blog post here). 

Emilie Lieberherr is just one of many remarkable women changing history in Zurich. Today, the city is governed by Corine Mauch. Mayor Mauch has broken multiple glass ceilings while in office, as she is the first female and openly lesbian mayor to be elected to govern Zurich.