Iceland Pledges To Achieve Gender Equality By 2030

Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson told the United Nations that Iceland aims for complete gender equality by 2030.

RÚV reports that Iceland is amongst the participants at this year’s United Nations Sustainable Development Summit. The Prime Minister addressed attendees on Iceland’s behalf, and made a number of pledges, including that Iceland has promised to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.

However, the Prime Minister had considerably more to say on the subject of gender equality.

“We also recognise the role that men and boys must play in eliminating discrimination and violence against women and girls,” he said. “One campaign in support of this which has already proven effective is UNWomen’s HeForShe campaign, which I am proud to say Icelandic men have supported in large numbers. I urge all men and boys to join the battle for equality. At this summit we are collectively committing to a number of reforms for women and girls in order to achieve equality by 2030.”

To this end, he said, the Icelandic government will be issuing more funding towards gender equality, although he did not specify where exactly the money would go.

The Prime Minister’s full speech can be read here.