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Gender Equality in Iceland

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Gender Equality in Iceland GENDER EQUALITY IN ICELAND Information on Gender Equality Issues in Iceland March 2017 2017 © Jafnréttisstofa | The Center for Gender Equality Iceland Address: Borgir v/Norðurslóð | 600 Akureyri |Iceland Email: [email protected] | Website: www.gender.is Table of Contents Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Facts about Iceland ................................................................................................................ 2 Stepping Stones..................................................................................................................... 3 A Brief History of Women´s Rights and Gender Equality in Iceland .......................................... 4 Current Context ..................................................................................................................... 7 Current Government Policy on Gender Equality ..................................................................... 9 Issues in Gender Equality ..................................................................................................... 13 Economic Participation and Opportunity .................................................................................. 13 Women and Men in the Private Sector ..................................................................................... 14 The Gender Pay Gap .................................................................................................................. 15 Equal Pay Standard .................................................................................................................... 15 Parental Leave ........................................................................................................................... 16 Taxation System ........................................................................................................................ 17 Political Representation ............................................................................................................ 18 Parliament - Althingi .................................................................................................................. 18 Municipal Councils .................................................................................................................... 19 Women and Men in the Public Sector ...................................................................................... 19 Education ................................................................................................................................... 20 Health ........................................................................................................................................ 21 Reproductive Health and Rights ................................................................................................ 21 Birth Rates ................................................................................................................................. 22 Abortions ................................................................................................................................... 22 Cancer ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Artificial Insemination ............................................................................................................... 23 Other Health Issues ................................................................................................................... 23 Violence against Women ........................................................................................................... 25 Research on Violence against Women ...................................................................................... 25 Changes in legislation ................................................................................................................ 26 Plan of Action to Deal with Violence in Close Relationships and Sexual Violence .................... 28 Services ...................................................................................................................................... 28 Human Trafficking ..................................................................................................................... 30 Media......................................................................................................................................... 31 Men and Gender Equality ......................................................................................................... 31 Youth and Gender Equality ....................................................................................................... 34 Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Persons ...................................................... 36 Legal Framework ................................................................................................................. 37 Constitution ............................................................................................................................... 37 Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men ...................................................... 37 Act on Maternity/Paternity Leave and Parental Leave ............................................................. 38 Amendments concerning gender quotas in Corporations ........................................................ 40 Gender Based Violence ............................................................................................................. 40 Sexual offences .......................................................................................................................... 40 Prostitution ................................................................................................................................ 41 Strip clubs .................................................................................................................................. 41 Violence in Close Relationships ................................................................................................. 41 Other Legislation ....................................................................................................................... 41 International Obligations and Legislation concerning Gender Equality .................................... 42 Action Plans and Strategies .................................................................................................. 43 Parliamentary resolution on a three-year gender equality action programme, 2016-2019 .... 43 Plan of Action to deal with Sexual Violence and Violence in Close Relationships .................... 43 Action Plan against Human Trafficking ..................................................................................... 44 National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 ........... 44 Institutional Mechanisms for Gender Equality ...................................................................... 45 The Centre for Gender Equality................................................................................................. 45 The Gender Equality Complaints Committee ............................................................................ 46 Gender Equality Council ............................................................................................................ 46 Municipality Gender Equality Committees ............................................................................... 46 Gender Equality Representatives .............................................................................................. 46 Educational Programmes and Institutions ............................................................................ 48 University of Iceland .................................................................................................................. 48 Gender Studies .......................................................................................................................... 48 The Centre for Women´s and Gender Studies (RIKK) ................................................................ 48 GEST - The Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme ................................................. 48 Centre for Children and Family Research (ICE-CCFR) ................................................................ 49 MARK - Centre for Research on Diversity and Gender.............................................................. 49 RannKyn - Centre for Research on Equality, Gender and Education ........................................ 49 The Centre for Disability Studies ............................................................................................... 50 Women's History Archives ........................................................................................................ 50 University of Akureyri ................................................................................................................ 50 Research Centre against Violence ............................................................................................. 50 Secondary Schools ..................................................................................................................... 51 Other Mechanisms and Institutions ....................................................................................
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