Women's Suffrage Around the World

The Enfranchisement of Women in Saudi Arabia

In a landmark move for women's rights, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia announced in September 2011 that women would be allowed to vote and run for office starting with the 2015 municipal elections. These councils are the kingdom's only semi-elected bodies and have limited authority, with half of their seats being elective. The decree was a significant advancement for gender equality in a nation known for its stringent gender norms. The inaugural municipal elections with female participation occurred in December 2015, resulting in the election of the first female politician, Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi, in the Mecca province's Madrakah. The election saw a total of twenty women securing seats on municipal councils, marking a historic moment for Saudi women's political engagement.

Advancements for Saudi Women in the Shura Council

The 2011 decree by King Abdullah also included a provision for women to be appointed to the Shura Council, an influential advisory body that provides recommendations on national policy. Although the council is not an elected entity, it plays a crucial role in Saudi governance. In January 2013, two royal decrees were issued, mandating that women occupy at least thirty seats on the council, ensuring a minimum representation of one-fifth. The decrees stipulated that female members must comply with Islamic Shariah disciplines, use separate entrances, sit in designated areas, and have distinct places of worship within the council building. A partition was established to separate the genders, and an internal communication system was set up to facilitate interactions between male and female members. The first group of women joined the Shura Council in 2013, including two members of the Saudi royal family. Additionally, three women were appointed as deputy chairpersons of committees, signifying further progress in the realm of women's political participation in Saudi Arabia.

The Pioneering Women's Suffrage Movement in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, known as Ceylon until 1972, was a trailblazer in Asia for women's suffrage, granting unrestricted voting rights to women over the age of 21 in 1931. This milestone was the culmination of decades of advocacy by Sri Lankan women, who began organizing with the Ceylon Women's Union in 1904. The movement gained significant traction with the formation of the Women's Franchise Union in 1925, which campaigned vigorously for suffrage rights. A testament to the country's progressive stance was the election of the world's first female Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, in 1960. Her daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga, continued the legacy by becoming Prime Minister in 1994 and later the first female executive president of Sri Lanka.

Early Adoption of Women's Suffrage in Thailand

Thailand's path to women's suffrage began with the Local Administrative Act of May 1897, which extended municipal voting rights to qualified female voters. This reform was part of a broader initiative by King Chulalongkorn to modernize the nation and maintain its independence. The transition to a parliamentary constitutional monarchy in 1932 further solidified women's rights, allowing them to vote and stand for election. Unlike many other countries, Thailand's adoption of women's suffrage did not stem from a specific women's rights movement but was likely influenced by Pridi Bhanomyong's vision of aligning the country with Western democratic norms.

The Gradual Progress of Women's Suffrage in Europe

The journey toward women's suffrage in Europe saw its final milestones with Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Swiss women achieved the right to vote in federal elections in 1971, and in 1991, women in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden gained the right to vote on local matters. Liechtenstein followed with the passage of women's suffrage by referendum in 1984 after several unsuccessful attempts. Other European countries varied in their timelines for enfranchising women. Albania and Andorra introduced women's suffrage in 1920 and 1970, respectively, with Andorra establishing a democratic constitution in 1993. Austria allowed women to vote in 1918 after the fall of the Habsburg monarchy, while Belgium granted compulsory women's suffrage in 1948. Post-World War II, Bulgaria, under Communist rule, recognized women's suffrage, and Croatia's legal framework for women's rights has evolved over time. The Czech Republic, with a history of partial suffrage dating back to the 1860s, fully enfranchised women in 1920. Cyprus, without a significant suffrage movement, granted women voting rights in 1961 through its constitution. Denmark's women's suffrage movement began in the late 19th century, achieving full voting rights by 1915. Estonia, upon gaining independence in 1918, included women's suffrage from its first elections. Finland was a pioneer, granting full rights to women in 1906 and electing the first female MPs in 1907. France extended suffrage to women in 1944, following World War II. Georgia, after its 1918 independence from Russia, allowed women to vote in 1919. Germany introduced women's suffrage in 1918 with the Weimar Constitution. Greece gradually expanded voting rights to women from the 1920s, achieving full suffrage in 1952.