Dear iKNOW Politics Member,
You are invited to participate in an online discussion on What can be learned from Iceland's experience in closing the gender gap? , organized by iKNOW Politics and the Women in Parliament Global Forum. We invite all members to join in the discussion and their share experiences and ideas. The discussion will be live from March 25 to April 11, 2014. Visit this link to contribute!
Iceland is a global leader in terms of women’s political empowerment. Women’s suffrage was introduced as early as 1915; the first female Parliamentarian was elected in 1922; and in 1980 Iceland became the first country in the world to elect a female Head of State, Vigdís Finnbogadóttir. (See more facts & figures about Iceland). But on October 24, 1975, Icelandic women went on a nationwide strike, crippling the country. They refused to work, cook or look after children. The women were fighting for greater gender equality and it worked!
For the past 5 years, Iceland has now been ranked number 1 in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report, as a country providing the same opportunities for men and women in education, business and politics. Iceland's current Gender Equality Act dates from 2008 and aims to establish and maintain gender equality in all spheres of society by changing traditional gender images and working against negative stereotypes regarding the roles of women and men. Today, Iceland has a large number of female MPs and CEOs. (See the speech by the Minister of the Interior of Iceland, Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir, on gender equality in Iceland).
The Women in Parliaments Global Forum, together with the Parliament of Iceland, is organising a Study Trip to Iceland (3-4 April). 50 female Parliamentarians from 30 different countries will gather in Reykjavik to discuss what women from other regions of the world can learn from the Icelandic gender model.
We would like to expand the discussion beyond the Icelandic Parliament and invite you to share your opinions and thoughts, over the coming two weeks, about the Icelandic experience in closing the gender gap and whether the Icelandic experience could serve as a model for other countries.
Q1. Iceland has succeeded in eliminating gender stereotypes in society, politics and business. What do you think is needed in order to tackle gender stereotypes in other countries? What does it take to become a champion in gender equality?
Q2. 90% of children aged 1-5 years are in day-care in Iceland. (Most municipalities pay 85% of the operational costs of kindergartens). Do you think that is a cause or an effect of Iceland's success on gender equality?
Q3. Iceland approved a plan implementing gender budgeting in 2011. Are there examples of other countries that have implemented gender responsive budgeting mechanisms and have they been successful?
Thank you in advance for your comments, inputs and feedback.
Best Regards,
iKNOW Politics