International Women’s Day
Happy International Women’s Day 2014
On this International Women’s Day, I would like to celebrate all of the women, and men, who have forged the path for women today. Without the courage and persistence of those who have gone before us, we would not have the opportunities that we do.
One of the most moving moments for me as a member of the Geneva City Council was in 1999. That was the year that Ruth Dreifuss was elected as the first woman President of Switzerland.
Tradition called for her first stop as President to be a visit to her home canton (state), which is Geneva, and to parade through the town with the local politicians so the citizens could welcome her. It was already special to accompany the first woman president of the country, but what truly moved me were the masses of women lining the streets. Many were waving white handkerchiefs and had tears in their eyes or were openly sobbing with joy as they welcomed her.
President Ruth Dreifuss represented a major step in what these women had fought for both covertly and overtly over the years. These suffragettes were women who had succeeded in having their voices count as votes and to be elected to government! This was a day of rejoicing.
Bonnie Fatio
