Eygló Harðardóttir, the minister for Social Affairs and Housing, has appointed a working group to outline a new family policy which, once established, will be in place until the year 2020, Vísir reports. The policy is meant to reinforce Iceland’s family-friendly community, ensuring that all citizens have equal opportunities, safety, and protection of their rights. The committee will also be responsible for suggesting practical implementation measures at the same time they submit their policy suggestions.
An announcement on the Ministry of Welfare’s website confirmed that economist Guðrún Valdimarsdóttir has been named chairman of the group and that a group of consultants will also be appointed in order to guarantee that there is broad participation among interested parties.
The committee announcement outlines an ambitious range of policies and initiatives, many of which aim at promoting social equality, so that families do not face discrimination based on their members’ genders, disabilities, religious beliefs, or sexual orientations. Among the suggested policy measures are protections for families’ economic and housing security, protections against domestic abuse, and support for families which have problems with alcohol or substance abuse. The committee also hopes to put measures in place which help facilitate balanced family lives and promote an equal sharing of parental responsibility among adults in the home.
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