Iceland aims to close gender pay gap, provide grants for international equality efforts

Iceland is committed to closing the gender pay gap by 2022, building on its proven track record on advancing gender equality. Its new session of Parliament has the highest share of women parliamentarians yet, at about 45 per cent, and 6 per cent of Icelandic men are HeforShe champions. Iceland is determined to encourage more of its countrymen to sign up, and will also encourage males around the world to do so and engage in achieving gender equality. Parliament has confirmed a huge increase for funding issues of equality. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s rights to vote and stand in parliamentary elections, Iceland has set up a five-year equality fund, and pledges that over half the grants will be awarded to international equality efforts. Speaking at the Global Leaders' Meeting on 27 September 2015, Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson said: “Men cannot sit idly by when issues such as gender-based violence and the gender pay gap are being discussed. These are not only women‘s issues. These are issues of general human rights.” [Speech]