Bruno
Kreisky was the Chancellor of Austria from 1970 to 1983. He was politically active
nearly all his life, and during the dictatorship that reigned in Austria in the
early 1930s, he was arrested and imprisoned as a political prisoner twice before
he fled to Sweden. He returned to Austria in 1946 and served in the Foreign Office
until 1951 when he was appointed by the Austrian Federal President as political
adviser and Assistant Chief of Staff. He held a number of different positions
in the Austrian government over the next 20 years, including Foreign Minister,
until he became Chancellor in 1970 -- the first Jewish Chancellor in Austrian
history.
Chancellor
Kreisky brought about many reforms in his country, including prison reforms, and
labor reforms (such as reducing the work week to 40 hours and guaranteeing equality
for women) as well as decriminalizing abortion and homosexuality. He also played
a leading role in international affairs, promoting North-South dialogue and working
with other world leaders to promote peace and development in Third World countries.
He hosted early strategic arms talks between the two superpowers, the United States
and the Soviet Union and tried to mediate between Arabs and Israel. He also tried
to advocate for Soviet dissidents and Austria was a transit point for Jews that
emigrated from the Soviet Union to Israel. For his 65th birthday in 1976, friends
created the Bruno Kreisky Foundation for Outstanding Achievements in the Area
of Human Rights. Every two years The Bruno Kreisky Award is given to individuals
or organizations for their contribution to the promotion of human rights. The
foundation also hosts the Bruno Kreisky Forum for International Dialogue, which
brings together international figures to discuss important social issues like
peace, human rights and globalization.
