Reykjavik leaders commemorate women's rights pioneer on suffrage anniversary

Reykjavik Mayor Hildur Björnsdóttir and City Council President Björg Magnúsdóttir paid tribute to Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir, a pivotal figure in Iceland's women's rights movement, on the occasion of Women's Rights Day. The ceremony took place at Bjarnhéðinsdóttir's gravesite, marking 111 years since Icelandic women secured the right to vote and be elected to the Althing, the country's parliament.

While these rights are now considered fundamental, their achievement was the result of a long and arduous struggle. The commemoration served as a reminder of the historical context and the dedication of the women who paved the way. The article highlights that when the Althing was re-established in Reykjavik in 1845, Icelandic women lacked both suffrage and the right to hold office.

The Icelandic Women's Society, founded in 1894 with the explicit goal of advancing women's rights, spearheaded multiple nationwide signature campaigns. These efforts repeatedly urged the Althing to amend the constitution and grant women full voting and candidacy rights. Petitions were submitted in 1895, 1907, and 1913. Notably, the 1907 campaign gathered over 12,000 signatures, representing more than half of all eligible women in the country at the time.

After years of advocacy, King Christian X finally signed legislation on June 19, 1915, amending Iceland's constitution. This law granted women aged 40 and older the right to vote in Althing elections, with the age limit set to decrease by one year over the following 15 years. Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir critically described this partial suffrage as "the notorious Icelandic, political trickery, to not grant women full voting rights, but to dole them out in small portions over 15 years."

Full equality in voting rights was eventually achieved in 1920 with the adoption of a new constitution. The article also notes that Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason became the first woman to take a seat in the Althing three years later, opening the door for the 141 women who have served since. The first female minister, Auður Auðuns, was appointed in 1970, and three women have held the position of Prime Minister, including current leader Kristrún Frostadóttir.

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the notorious Icelandic, political trickery, to not grant women full voting rights, but to dole them out in small portions over 15 years.