Informing a new strategy against sexism and harassment in the Parliament of Iceland
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
Iceland has an excellent record on gender equality, topping the World Economic Forum’s ranking of most gender equal country for 14 consecutive years. It was also the first country to elect a female president, Vigdis Finnbogadóttir, who won the 1980 presidential election as well as the next three. The Parliament, the Althingi, almost became the first European country to elect a female-majority parliament in 2021, but after a recount narrowly missed the target, with women winning 30 out of 63 seats.
But gender equality goes further than numbers and rankings: it requires equal treatment and opportunity too. In 2017, for example, the #MeToo movement raised awareness around the world of sexual harassment, assault and abuse against women in all walks of life, including parliaments.
The IPU’s 2018 analysis on sexism, harassment and violence against women in European parliaments, published in partnership with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, revealed that some 82.5% of respondents reported having suffered psychological violence during their time in office.
Read here the full article published by the IPU on 15 April 2024.
Iceland has an excellent record on gender equality, topping the World Economic Forum’s ranking of most gender equal country for 14 consecutive years. It was also the first country to elect a female president, Vigdis Finnbogadóttir, who won the 1980 presidential election as well as the next three. The Parliament, the Althingi, almost became the first European country to elect a female-majority parliament in 2021, but after a recount narrowly missed the target, with women winning 30 out of 63 seats.
But gender equality goes further than numbers and rankings: it requires equal treatment and opportunity too. In 2017, for example, the #MeToo movement raised awareness around the world of sexual harassment, assault and abuse against women in all walks of life, including parliaments.
The IPU’s 2018 analysis on sexism, harassment and violence against women in European parliaments, published in partnership with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, revealed that some 82.5% of respondents reported having suffered psychological violence during their time in office.
Read here the full article published by the IPU on 15 April 2024.
