GENDER EQUALITY IN ICELAND Information on Gender Equality Issues in Iceland Centre for Gender Equality Iceland Updated January 2012 2012 © Jafnréttisstofa | The Center for Gender Equality Iceland Address: Borgir v/Norðurslóð | 600 Akureyri |Iceland Email: [email protected] | Website: www.jafnretti.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 The Economic Crisis and Gender Equality ................................................................................... 8 Current Government Policy on Gender Equality ................................................................... 10 Issues in Gender Equality ..................................................................................................... 14 Economic Participation and Opportunity .................................................................................. 14 Women and Men in the Private Sector ..................................................................................... 15 The Gender Pay Gap .................................................................................................................. 16 Parental Leave ........................................................................................................................... 16 Taxation System ........................................................................................................................ 17 Political Representation ............................................................................................................ 18 Parliament - Althingi .................................................................................................................. 18 Municipal Councils .................................................................................................................... 19 Women and Men in Ministries .................................................................................................. 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 .................... 27 Services ...................................................................................................................................... 27 Human Trafficking ..................................................................................................................... 28 Media......................................................................................................................................... 30 Men and Gender Equality ......................................................................................................... 30 Youth and Gender Equality ....................................................................................................... 32 Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons ...................................................... 34 Legal Framework ................................................................................................................. 35 Constitution ............................................................................................................................... 35 Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men ...................................................... 35 Act on Maternity/Paternity Leave and Parental Leave ............................................................. 36 Amendments concerning gender quotas in Corporations ........................................................ 36 Gender Based Violence ............................................................................................................. 37 Sexual offences .......................................................................................................................... 37 Prostitution ................................................................................................................................ 37 Strip clubs .................................................................................................................................. 38 Violence in Close Relationships ................................................................................................. 38 Other Legislation ....................................................................................................................... 38 International Obligations and Legislation concerning Gender Equality .................................... 38 Action Plans and Strategies .................................................................................................. 39 Parliamentary resolution on a four year gender equality action programme, 2011-2014....... 39 Plan of Action to deal with Sexual Violence and Violence in Close Relationships .................... 39 Action Plan against Human Trafficking ..................................................................................... 39 National Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 ........... 40 Institutional Mechanisms for Gender Equality ...................................................................... 41 The Centre for Gender Equality................................................................................................. 41 The Gender Equality Complaints Committee ............................................................................ 42 Gender Equality Council ............................................................................................................ 42 Municipality Gender Equality Committees ............................................................................... 42 Gender Equality Representatives .............................................................................................. 43 University Programmes and Institutions .............................................................................. 44 University of Iceland .................................................................................................................. 44 Gender Studies .......................................................................................................................... 44 The Centre for Women´s and Gender Studies (RIKK) ................................................................ 44 GEST - The Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme ................................................. 44 Centre for Children and Family Research (ICE-CCFR) ................................................................ 45 MARK – Centre for Research on Diversity and Gender ............................................................. 45 RannKyn – Centre for Research on Equality, Gender and Education ........................................ 45 The Centre for Disability Studies ............................................................................................... 46 Women's History Archives ........................................................................................................ 46 University of Akureyri ................................................................................................................ 46 Research Centre against Violence ............................................................................................. 46 Other Mechanisms and Institutions ..................................................................................... 47 Emergency Rape Wards ...........................................................................................................