Emilie Lieberherr facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emilie Lieberherr
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Emilie Lieberherr (1986)
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| Born | 14 October 1924 Erstfeld, Switzerland
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| Died | 3 January 2011 (aged 86) Zollikerberg, Switzerland
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| Nationality | Swiss |
| Alma mater | University of Bern |
| Occupation | Politician |
Emilie Lieberherr (born October 14, 1924, died January 3, 2011) was an important Swiss politician. She was a member of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland. Emilie is remembered for her strong work for women's rights and social justice in Switzerland.
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Early Life and Learning
Emilie Lieberherr was born in 1924 in Erstfeld, Switzerland. She was the second of three sisters. Her father was a machinist and her mother was a seamstress.
As a young person, Emilie went to a Catholic boarding school. She earned a diploma in business. After school, she worked as a secretary for three years at a bank in Zurich. Later, she worked as a personal trainer in Bern.
Emilie then went to the University of Bern. From 1952 to 1956, she studied economics. She earned a special degree called a doctorate. After her studies, she moved to the United States for three years. There, she worked as a governess for the famous actor Henry Fonda. She helped take care of his children, Peter and Jane Fonda.
In 1960, Emilie returned to Switzerland. She became a teacher in Zurich. She taught sales staff at a vocational school until 1970.
Fighting for Rights and Political Work
In 1961, Emilie Lieberherr helped start the Consumer Forum of Switzerland. This group helped people who bought goods and services.
Towards the end of the 1960s, she became very involved in politics. She joined the movement for women's suffrage in Switzerland. This was a big effort to give women the right to vote. Emilie became a main leader in this movement.
She was the President of the Action Committee that led the March to Bern. On March 1, 1969, Emilie spoke to thousands of people. They were gathered in the Federal Square. They demanded that the Swiss government give women the right to vote.
Soon after, Emilie joined the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland. From 1970 until 1994, she was the first woman city councilor in Zurich. She was also the head of the Zurich Social Welfare Office. This office helped people in need.
Emilie Lieberherr also represented the Canton of Zurich in the Federal Assembly. This is like the country's parliament. She served there from 1978 to 1983. She was also the first President of the Federal Commission for Women's Issues in Switzerland. This group worked on topics important to women.
She was re-elected many times with support from her party. However, in 1982, she had some disagreements with them. In 1986, she was re-elected again with support from a trade union group in Zurich. In 1990, she was officially removed from the Social Democratic Party. This happened because she supported a different candidate than the party's choice in an election.
In 2014, Emilie Lieberherr's work was honored by the Gesellschaft zu Fraumünster.
Helping the Community
Emilie Lieberherr worked as the head of social services for 24 years. During this time, she did a lot to help the public.
She introduced a system in Zurich to help families get alimony payments. She also created the Foundation of Residential Care for the Elderly. This foundation helped older people find good places to live.
While in office, she also built twenty-two homes in Switzerland. These homes were for people who were struggling. She also set up youth centers. These centers gave young people safe places to go. Emilie also started programs for young adults who did not have jobs.
Youth Protests of 1980
In 1980, there were big youth protests in Zurich. These protests were called the Opernhauskrawalle. People also called them Züri brännt, which means Zürich is burning. These events were even shown in a Swiss documentary film.
The protests happened because young people felt there were not enough cultural programs for them. Also, they thought too much money was spent on other things, like the opera house. Emilie Lieberherr was a main politician involved at that time. She was a member of the city's executive team.
