Maria Baers

Maria Gabriella Baers (20 September 1883 – 30 December 1959) was a Belgian senator, feminist, and trade unionist. Baers was the founder of Nationaal Verbond der Christelijke Vrouwengilden (National Union of Christian Women's Guilds. nowadays: ). In 1936, Baers and were the first women senators in Belgium. In 1945, she became the first women Secretary of the Senate, and the first chairwomen of a parliamentary commission.

Biography Baers was born on 20 September 1883 in Antwerp. She went to high school at the Sœurs of Notre-Dame and was therefore fluent in both Dutch and French. She studied social sciences at the University of Freiburg.

In 1936, Baers was elected to the Belgian Senate and remain a senator until 1954.

In 1945, Baers became the first women Secretary of the Senate, and became Chairperson of the Parliamentary Commission on Health.

On 30 December 1959, Baers died in Brussels at the age of 76.