FAQs
Companies and institutions with 25 or more employees in principle per annum shall set themselves a gender equality plan or mainstream gender equality perspectives into their personnel policy. This shall specifically include, i.e., a statement of objectives and a plan of how they are to be achieved in order to guarantee the employees the rights set out in Articles 6–14 in the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights Irrespective of Gender.
The Minister responsible for equality matters must convene a Gender Equality Forum every two years according to Act no. 150/2020. The ministry handling equality matters shall ensure that the Forum’s discussions are compiled and submitted to the Minister. The Forum is open to all, however, the ministry handling equality matters shall invite members of Althingi, representatives of national and municipal government institutions, including their gender equality representatives, and representatives of the social partners and civil society organisations with gender equality issues on their agenda. The ministry handling equality matters shall ensure that the Forum’s discussions are compiled and submitted to the Minister. The Forum’s discussions are taken into account in the parliamentary resolution on a gender equality action plan that must be submitted every four-years.
The Gender Equality Council is a gender equality consultation platform. The council shall be assembled at least once a year and shall include representatives of the social partners, the academic community and gender equality organisations working within the provisions of Act No. 150/2020. The role of the consultation platform is to act in an advisory role for the Minister’s professional policy-making on issues relating to gender equality.
Individuals, enterprises, institutions and non-governmental organizations, either in their own name or on behalf of their members who consider that they are the victims of violations of one of the following acts, may submit their case to the Gender Equality Complaints Committee.
Icelandic women were granted the right to vote and eligibility to stand for election by a constitutional amendment attested by the King on 19 June 1915. They first exercised this right in elections held in 1916, when elections were held 5 August, for members representing the entire country (national members), and in individual constituencies 21 October.
Here you can access historical facts about gender equality in Iceland:
Auður Auðuns was the first female minister in Iceland. She was appointed as Minister of Justice and Religion in 1970 and served for 1 year.