11 Facts About Ruth Dreifuss

Ruth Dreifuss was a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1993 to 2002, representing the Canton of Geneva.

Ruth Dreifuss was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on 10 March 1993 as the 100th member elected since the foundation of the federal state.

Also, Ruth Dreifuss elected Secretary of the Swiss Trade Union, where she dealt with matters related to social insurance, labor law and women's issues, until her election to the Swiss Federal Council in 1993.

Ruth Dreifuss was a social-democratic member of the City of Bern's Legislative Assembly from 1989 to 1992.

Ruth Dreifuss missed out the election to the National Council of Switzerland in 1991.

Ruth Dreifuss is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, an International network of current and former female leaders whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.

Ruth Dreifuss held the Federal Department of Home Affairs until her resignation on 31 December 2002.

Ruth Dreifuss was the first woman ever to be elected President of the Confederation from 1 January to 31 December 1999.

Ruth Dreifuss won several referendums, including a revision of the Health Insurance Bill, the 10th revision of the social security system, a drug policy based on prevention, therapy, help and rehabilitation, and a new law regarding the film industry and its development.

Ruth Dreifuss worked on a Maternity Insurance law, but since the majority of the Federal Council rejected the proposal, she had to ask the people to reject her own text, as she had to respect collegiality.

Ruth Dreifuss is a member and former chair of the Global Commission on Drug Policy and a member of International Commission Against the Death Penalty.