Swiss female jurists and women’s rights in Switzerland since 1971

Since the introduction of the federal women’s right to vote in 1971, Swiss equality legislation has continuously evolved. The aim of the seminar is to analyse these developments and gain a deeper understanding of them.

Through interviews in the four national languages with prominent women in the history of Swiss women’s rights, we will not only shed light on historical and societal developments, but also gain valuable insights for the present. Interviews already published on our Blog offer participants the opportunity to receive first-hand information.

The seminar provides a chance to explore the legal and political context of these contemporary witnesses and to understand the mechanisms that led to the adoption of important laws, such as the 1996 Gender Equality Act. Discover the stories behind the laws that shape our lives today.

Several interviews have already been published. For example, the interview with Chiara Simoneschi-Cortesi addresses the situation in Ticino after the introduction of women’s suffrage, the establishment of the Federal Commission for Women’s Issues in 1976, and its impact on Swiss legislation. Patricia Schulz discusses the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Lili Nabholz-Haidegger talks about her involvement in the federal popular initiative “Equal Rights for Men and Women” and the anchoring of gender equality in the Federal Constitution through Article 4 paragraph 2, adopted on 14 June 1981. An interesting topic of investigation here could be the legal action for equal pay. The interview with Prof. Beatrice Weber-Dürler—after Emilie Kempin-Spyri the second female professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Zurich—deals extensively with questions of legal equality.

The aim of the seminar is to foster an interdisciplinary discourse on the achievements of Swiss female jurists and the development of women’s rights in Switzerland since 1971. Students from the Faculty of Law as well as from other faculties of the University of Zurich are warmly invited to participate.

Students have the option to write and present their work in German, French, or Italian. There is also the possibility of conducting an interview themselves.

The seminar will take place at the University of Zurich. Further information on dates, travel, and the detailed course of the seminar will be announced in due course.

I. Seminar Requirements

Students will write a bachelor’s thesis (approx. 45,000 characters/about 25 pages) or a master’s thesis (approx. 100,000 characters/about 40 pages) in German, French, or Italian. As part of the seminar, a presentation will also be given. Participation in the seminar will be taken into account in the assessment. Additionally, an article (no more than 5,000 characters) dealing with the topic of the master’s thesis must be written and will be published on the Blog.

II. Seminar Organisation

The seminar will take place at the University of Zurich. The seminar languages are German, French, and Italian. There are no seminar fees. For further information, please send an email to lst.fiocchi@ius.uzh.ch.

III. Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s and master’s students are eligible for the seminar. Students from the Faculty of Law and other faculties of the University of Zurich may participate.

IV. Registration

Registration takes place via the module booking tool.

V. Submission Deadlines

The submission deadline for the bachelor’s and master’s theses is 10 May 2026. The submission deadline for the article is 30 May 2026.