The Icelandic Human Rights Centre hosts Gender Equality Program for the Peace Boat
3. July- The Icelandic Human Rights Centre hosted a day-long program on Gender Equality for the Peace Boat on their visit in Reykjavik.
Peace Boat is a Japan-based international non-governmental and non-profit organization that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment.
Peace Boat seeks to create awareness and action based on effecting positive social and political change in the world. They pursue this through the organization of global educational programmes, responsible travel, cooperative projects and advocacy activities.
Peace Boat carries out its main activities through a chartered passenger ship that travels the world on peace voyages. The ship creates a neutral, mobile space and enables people to engage across borders in dialogue and mutual cooperation at sea, and in the ports that they visit. Three Global Voyages and one short Asian regional voyage are usually organized each year. The three-month Global Voyages are each joined by around 800 participants and visit between 15-20 countries.
Peace Boat celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008 and mark the occasion with the first ever Peace Boat visits to Iceland and Greenland. The Peace Boat arrived in Iceland in July 3, 2008.
With 850 mostly Japanese participants, the ship's 62nd Global Voyage visited Reykjavik on its vessel the “Clipper Pacific.” The Boat has travelled through Asia, Africa, Middle East and Europe, and is heading next towards Latin America.
The Peace Boat held a Peace and Green Event at Skarfabakki Pier to highlight people-to-people diplomacy, and the desire to live in a more environmentally just world. The event took place immediately prior to the G8 Summit held in Japan. With climate change and environmental issues declared as a key issue for the G8, this event will be a timely opportunity to linking international grassroots efforts and deliver the voices of Icelandic and Japanese, as the G8 host nation, civil society to the world.
It also featured lively and celebratory music and dance performances by both local Icelandic musicians and Peace Boat participants all the way from Japan.
Environmental and Peace Education Programs were also held during the visit to Reykjavik. Participants visited a Geothermal Plant and the Blue Lagoon to learn lessons from Iceland's superb example of environmental protection others will exchanged ideas with local youth about what kind of world we would like to live in, and how we can create that.
The Icelandic Human Rights Center took care of activities for the group interested in gender equality. Representatives from the Centre organized and hosted a visit to local women's organization, such as Kvennaathvarfið – the Safe shelter. Followed by a tour of the Parliament of Iceland with emphasis on the history of women and politics. Thereafter, while enjoying lunch, representatives from the Male branch of the Femenist Association informed the guest of the activities carried out in their organization, a lecture was also given on the paternity leave and new legislation on the subject discussed. Despite the weather our guests enjoyed a tour in Reykjavík of the historical sights, relating to the Women´s Rights Movement.
Our guest were very grateful for a pleasant program. We wish them the best of luck on their journeys in the future.
European Week Against Racism 
The Human Rights Education Project