International Women’s Day at KC: Meet Prof. Dr. Annette Spycher

Justice Demands Equality and Diversity 

During my childhood and youth, the unequal treatment of women compared to men was very pronounced in the Swiss legal and social systems as well as in politics. I was indignant from an early age: “No woman in the Federal Council!” The husband as the head of the family—and that until 1987—how is that possible? Cantons without women's suffrage, even into the 1990s! Disadvantage for disabled housewives due to the method of assessing disability (extending well into the 2000s); the wife as an appendage of her husband in tax law (still)… The examples are many. 

Since the 1980s, much has changed for the better—if not entirely for the best—in terms of equality in Switzerland. Slowly, yes, but steadily, and particularly in my main field of practice, family law. Often, it is societal development that lags behind the legal possibilities and provisions, rather than the other way around. Certain problems disappear, while new ones emerge. 

Encouragingly, in step with this development, the proportion of women practising as lawyers has increased. However, there remains room for improvement in the representation of women at all levels – that is, up to and including the partner level. I hope to see significant improvements in this area in the coming years. 

Furthermore, I wish that we all would once again commit ourselves more actively and clearly to equality issues in general, and to the defence of women's rights in particular. These rights are currently coming under increasing pressure worldwide from various quarters. Having had the privilege of studying law still means, for me, to call out injustice and the lack of equality, and, within my own means, to actively stand up for equality. 

International Women’s Day is an occasion to reflect on the importance of commitment and the effort required to achieve and maintain equality and diversity at all levels.