On Friday 14 November at 11 a.m., Franziska Herold, Equal Opportunities Officer of the City of Chemnitz, together with the Landesfrauenrat Sachsen e. V. and the SPD Chemnitz, will dedicate a plaque of the "Frauenorte Sachsen" for the politician and women's rights activist Helene Wagner. The event will take place at the SPD office in Chemnitz, Dresdner Straße 38.
The event is open to the public and representatives of the media are also invited.
The plaque inauguration will be accompanied by speeches. Nicole Schieferdecker, Chairwoman of the Women's Working Group of the SPD Chemnitz, will welcome the guests. Dr Jessica Bock, Chairwoman of the Saxony Women's Council, will then introduce the association and the "Frauenorte Sachsen" project. Stephanie Pietsch will speak about the moving life and work of Helene Wagner. The event will conclude with a reception.
Helene Wagner, born in Mittweida in 1870, spent her life campaigning for better working conditions - especially for women. She worked as a domestic servant, housewife and seamstress and was an early advocate for social justice and equality. As early as 1911, Wagner spoke to an audience of around 3,000 women in Leipzig about women's suffrage - a significant moment in the history of the women's movement. In 1919, she was elected to the Saxon People's Chamber and was also a member of the Chemnitz City Council. Despite political upheaval and power struggles, she remained true to her principles. Wagner died in Chemnitz in 1945.
Background
Since 2016, the Saxony Women's Council has been honouring historical female personalities who have made outstanding achievements in the political, social, economic, scientific, cultural or sporting fields with the "Frauenorte Sachsen" project. The aim is to make the history of women in Saxony visible and to create female role models for future generations.
The Landesfrauenrat Sachsen e. V. is the umbrella organisation of over 40 women's associations, clubs, initiatives and equality initiatives in the Free State of Saxony. It is committed to the actual equality of women and men in accordance with Article 3 of the Basic Law and Article 8 of the Saxon Constitution - regardless of origin, religion, sexual orientation, age or disability.