The UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women addresses Iceland's fifth and sixth periodic reports

28.7.2008

July 8th, the Iceland came before the UN Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in the UN headquarters in New York.

The Icelandic delegation introduced Iceland's fifth and sixth report on the implementation of the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The Icelandic Human Rights Centre submitted an additional report to the CEDAW-Committee and met with experts on July 7th. The Centre addressed certain provisions of the Convention and brought light to several shortcomings in the Convention's implementation.

Attention was brought to how few women have influencial positions in the Icelandic economy, only 13% of the administrative positions in companies are held by women. The Centre placed emphasis on the importance in further action to put pressure on companies so they contribute to gender equality in their management as well as in the hiring process.

The Centre noted that despite the high level of education of Icelandic women, in 2007 only 18% of the professors in Háskóli Íslands were women, 32% of the assistant professors were women and 54% of university mentors. Only 32% of the Parliamentarians are women but the percentage has increased by 2% since 2003. Only 36% of the ministers are women. The Centre also noted the unclarified stagnant differential in wages of women and men, which remains 16 % in mens favour. The Centre's representatives voiced their concern that prostitution is still legal although and that no measures have been taken to decrease the demand or assist women who engage in prostitution. The Centre recommends that Iceland follow the example of Sweden and prohibit the solicitation of prostitution. In this context, the Centre also voiced concern that no remedies are in place for victims of trafficking, or victim - or witness protection, and that there is very little information to be found about the true circumstances of women who work in strip-clubs.

The Centre voiced concern that only a small percentage of the women who seek help in Stígamót and the emergency room for rape victims, press charges. The Centre is concerned with the light penalties for sexual violence, including rape. The Centre recommended that the State adopted a more effective restraining order similar to the “Austrian way” and underlined the importance that everyone, including the police and judiciary, who deals with issues related to violence against women get special training.

The Committee requested clarification of several issues.

The Committee inquired about the visibility of the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in Icelandic society and legislation, if the Convention was viewed as legally binding and if it reaches all sectors of society, for example family- and educational matters.

The Committee expressed disappointment that the Convention has not been  has not been incorporated into domestic law and went on to call for the strengthening of the action plan againt violence against women and children from 2006; The Icelandic Human Rights Centre brought attention to the fact that no financial resources have been assigned to the plan.

The Committee noted that a large number of women of foreign origin seek assistance in Kvennaathvarfið - the women's shelter. The Committee voiced concern that the law regarding foreigners could compel women to stay in violent relationships for fear of exportation; legislation in this area needs to be clear.

The Committee requested information whether specific, temporary action to increase rights of women, was to be found in the new Equality Law, and then in which areas and how. The Committee requested information regarding the restraining order and pointed out its resticted use. The Committee asked why the police authorities were permitted to drop the restraining order when a court order is requested for it´s application. The Committee found it peculiar that reduced requirements were for the elimination when the application was issued by ruling. The Committee also discussed trafficking and strip clubs in Iceland. The Committee brought attention to the unclear legislation and limited support for the victims of trafficking. The Committee emphasised the importance that the authorities concentrated on protecting victims, instead of putting all the attention on the actor.

The Committee asked if the authorities monitored the income of the strip club owners from prostitution as it is illegal for a third party to profits from it. Pornography and its distribution was also discussed and whether the operation plan against violence against women and children contained remedies against the distribution of pornography. The Committee discussed the limited participation of women in politics, that women are seldom in influential positions, and more often in part-time jobs, than men, and required information on how the authorities intended to remedy this issue.

The Committee asked for information how authorities intended to fight the gender wage-gap and voiced concern over the  frequency of rape and few charges in rape cases. Finally the Committee said that developments in Iceland were positive but rather slow and emphasised that Iceland could do better. Iceland could set an example for other countries when it comes to participation of women and equality in every area of society.

The Icelandic Human Rights Centre report is to be found here.

The authorities' report here.