Iceland one of the UN Member States in Generation Equality Forum Action Coalitions

Iceland will be among the UN Member States chosen to lead one of the UN Women Generation Equality Forum Action Coalitions, as has been announced. Iceland will lead the Action Coalition on gender-based violence along with Kenya, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

The Generation Equality Forum is the largest project UN Women has undertaken since its establishment ten years ago, and a priority of Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The Generation Equality Forum is a five-year project to accelerate progress for Gender Equality by 2030 in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Leaders from Member States, civil society, women's rights organizations, international organizations, UN agencies, philanthropic entities, youth-led organizations, and the private sector will come together to deliver game-changing results for women and girls. 

Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir: 

"The Generation Equality Forum is of particular importance now, when we have unfortunately seen increased gender-based violence under the circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a leading UN Member State in the Action Coalition, Iceland will have the opportunity to shape the global plan of action against gender-based violence. Iceland's leading role is in line with the Icelandic Government's priorities, aiming to contribute in a meaningful way to the fight against gender-based violence."

The Generation Equality Forum aims to deliver concrete and transformative change for women and girls around the world. Five years after global leaders agreed to the Sustainable Development Goals, progress on goal five on gender equality lags behind progress on other goals.

The Generation Equality Forum was established on the occasion of 25th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of its landmark outcome, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing Platform for Action).

The Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Cooperation have established a working group to coordinate Iceland's action and advocacy and garner support for the Action Coalition's work both in Iceland and internationally. The group will base their work on the progress achieved in Iceland. The group will coordinate their work with the relevant ministries, agencies, and organizations in Iceland.