Ehrenbürgerinnen in spe für die Stadt Leipzig 12 plus 12 Vorschläge

Speaking at the opening:

Dr. SKADI JENNICKE, Mayor of Culture of the City of Leipzig

and UTE McKENDRY, International Women's Club of Leipzig

Musical opening by the women's choir CANTA ANIMATA under the direction of REGINA KOLB

Since 1832, the city of Leipzig has conferred the honorary citizenship to 92 people - 90 of them were men. Only two women have ever been honored with the city's highest distinction. This imbalance reflects patriarchal social structures that persist to this day. The lifetime achievements of many women do not receive the attention and recognition they deserve. The fact that Leipzig is a city in which women do play an active role in society also goes unnoticed. They have (so far) been denied recognition as honorary citizens of Leipzig, although many women have made outstanding contributions to the common good.

For this reason, from April 2023 to March 2024, the AG Frauenprojekte Leipzig submitted nominations for honorary citizens to the City of Leipzig at monthly intervals. Each proposal was supplemented by a further candidate from Leipzig's history - whose life's work would also have justified an honorary citizenship.

The exciting, touching and impressive insights into the biographies of potential honorary citizens are not only an invitation to reflect. Rather, they appeal to all citizens as well as the democratically elected

decision-makers in the city council to respect the equal rights of men and women after 190 years in accordance with

in accordance with Article 3 of the Basic Law and to continue to develop Leipzig in a progressive manner.