2 Euro Belgium 2023 - Universal suffrage for women

2 Euro Belgium 2023 - Universal women's suffrage

Description:

March 27, 1948 marked a decisive turning point in Belgium's political history. It was the date on which the country granted women the right to vote, paving the way for equal political participation and a more democratic society. Today, as we celebrate 75 years of women's suffrage in Belgium, it's essential to look back at this historic advance, explore women's struggles for gender equality and assess where we are today.

The long struggle for women's suffrage

The struggle for women's suffrage in Belgium has been a long and bitter battle. Belgian women began demanding the right to vote at the end of the 19th century, drawing inspiration from feminist movements in Europe and the USA. They formed groups, published newspapers and organized demonstrations to assert their rights.

For decades, women faced tenacious resistance from the government and patriarchal society. Arguments against women's suffrage ranged from the idea that women were naturally inferior to men in politics, to the fear that their participation would disrupt the established social order.

Yet Belgian women didn't give up. They persevered in their struggle, and their determination finally bore fruit in 1948 when the Belgian Parliament passed a law granting women the right to vote. It was a significant victory for women's rights and a step towards gender equality.

On the heart, a design commemorating seventy-five years of Belgian universal female suffrage, depicting the female symbol whose loop is filled in with pencil, the initials IB of artist-engraver Iris Bruijns, the ISO code for Belgium, BE, the year, 2023, and the Dutch hallmarks (including the caduceus from the Utrecht workshop); legend "ALGEMEEN VROUWENKIESRECHT" / "SUFFRAGE UNIVERSEL FÉMININ" / "75 ANS"; on the crown, the twelve emblematic European five-pointed stars pointing upwards.

Very limited edition 125,000 copies