Lucienne Herman-Michielsens
Encyclopedia
Lucienne Adeline Jeanne Ida Herman-Michielsens (13 March 1926 – 22 January 1995) was a Belgian
liberal politician and a member of the Party for Freedom and Progress
(PVV). She was married to Jacques Herman, a physician.
Her father died when she was four years old.
Herman-Michielsens started her career as a teacher, like her mother. Later, she obtained a doctorate in law at the University of Ghent and became a civil servant. She married Jacques Herman in 1951.
and senator for the PVV in the Belgian Senate
. For a short period in 1980, Herman-Michielsens was State Secretary for the Flemish community
.
On 3 April 1990, the Belgian parliament approved a bill, which Herman-Michielsens had submitted together with Roger Lallemand
, to legalize abortion
under certain conditions.The new law modified Articles 348, 350, 351, and 352 of the Belgian penal code (Title VII, Chapter I), and raised Article 353.
In addition to supporting gender equality and abortion rights for women, Herman-Michielsens fought for the legal guarantees of religious pluralism
. After proposals on pluralism failed in June 1970—recognizing Islam
, but not liberalism—a law was passed on 23 January 1981 providing limited support.
Herman-Michielsens resigned in 1991, at the peak of her political career, after diabetes began to cause blindness
and renal failure
. She and her husband retired and moved to Knokke-Heist. Herman-Michielsens died in Ghent on 22 January 1995.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
liberal politician and a member of the Party for Freedom and Progress
Party for Freedom and Progress
The Party for Freedom and Progress was a liberal party in Belgium which existed from 1961 until 1992 and was the successor of the Liberal Party, which had roots dating back to 1846. It was succeeded in Flanders by the Flemish Liberals and Democrats and in Wallonia by the Parti Réformateur...
(PVV). She was married to Jacques Herman, a physician.
Biography
Herman-Michielsens was the only child of Gaston Michielsens and Adeline Mielecam.Her father died when she was four years old.
Herman-Michielsens started her career as a teacher, like her mother. Later, she obtained a doctorate in law at the University of Ghent and became a civil servant. She married Jacques Herman in 1951.
Political career
From 1965 to 1970, she was the president of the legal committee of the PVV Women (PVV-Vrouwen); in 1968, she became the director of the PVV Women of Ghent. She was president of the National Federation of Women PVV from 1970 until 1978, when that organization split due to language issues; she subsequently founded the Federation of Flemish PVV Women, becoming its first president. She remained a member of the Federation's Executive Board until her death. From 1977 until 1991 she was a member of the Ghent municipal councilMunicipal council
A municipal council is the local government of a municipality. Specifically the term can refer to the institutions of various countries that can be translated by this term...
and senator for the PVV in the Belgian Senate
Belgian Senate
The Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
. For a short period in 1980, Herman-Michielsens was State Secretary for the Flemish community
Flemish Community
The term Flemish Community has two distinct, though related, meanings:...
.
On 3 April 1990, the Belgian parliament approved a bill, which Herman-Michielsens had submitted together with Roger Lallemand
Roger Lallemand
Roger Lallemand is a Walloon-Belgian lawyer and socialist politician.-Education:He graduated as a licentiate in Romance philology and obtained a doctorate in law at the Universite Libre de Bruxelles.-Career:...
, to legalize abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
under certain conditions.The new law modified Articles 348, 350, 351, and 352 of the Belgian penal code (Title VII, Chapter I), and raised Article 353.
In addition to supporting gender equality and abortion rights for women, Herman-Michielsens fought for the legal guarantees of religious pluralism
Religious pluralism
Religious pluralism is a loosely defined expression concerning acceptance of various religions, and is used in a number of related ways:* As the name of the worldview according to which one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus that at least some truths and true values...
. After proposals on pluralism failed in June 1970—recognizing Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, but not liberalism—a law was passed on 23 January 1981 providing limited support.
Herman-Michielsens resigned in 1991, at the peak of her political career, after diabetes began to cause blindness
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
and renal failure
Renal failure
Renal failure or kidney failure describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood...
. She and her husband retired and moved to Knokke-Heist. Herman-Michielsens died in Ghent on 22 January 1995.