Statement by H.E. Anna Johannsdottir,
Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations
General Assembly 79th session
10th Plenary Meeting of Third Committee
Advancement of Women (Item 27)
9 October 2024

Thank you, Madam Chair,

As this is the first time Iceland takes the floor this session, I would like to begin by congratulating you and other members of the Bureau on your election. We look forward to working with you. 

Bridging the gender gap is a global challenge. We all need to do more to accelerate progress towards full achievement of gender equality. Iceland will continue to do its part. 

Madame Chair,

Gender equality is one of our main priorities as a member of the Human Rights Council during the period 2025-2027. 

Iceland will remain steadfast in its commitment to advancing human rights of women and girls, in all their diversity, with a special focus on;
    *working collaboratively towards zero tolerance for sexual and gender-based violence;
    *promoting universal access to reproductive health and rights and comprehensive sexuality       education;
    *working towards achieving equal pay for equal work;
    *and finally, because participation of men and boys in the fight for gender equality is
      crucial, we will continue promoting their engagement in this regard. 

Madam Chair,

Iceland has been a proud champion of gender equality for decades. 

Women and girl’s rights are quite simply human rights. It is therefore shocking to see the Taliban continuing to restrict women’s fundamental human rights with discriminatory laws and policies that effectively erase women from public life.

Therefore, Iceland supports the cross-regional action to hold the Taliban accountable for their grave violations of CEDAW recently announced during the UNGA High Level week.

Madam Chair,

We regret that the backlash against the rights of women and girls and gender equality seems to be regressing in all parts of the world. 

To reverse this trend, the fulfilment of sexual and reproductive health and rights is imperative. 

To ensure access for all women and girls to the full range of sexual and reproductive health services they must be aware of, and understand, their ability to realize their reproductive rights – hence the importance of comprehensive sexuality education. 

In addition, they must be able to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters relating to their sexuality.

Madam Chair,

In Iceland, we continue to make conscious improvements to LGBTQI+ rights. 

Our Parliament recently adopted the first national action plan in this regard. These actions of strong policy making have moved Iceland from 18th place on the ILGA Europe Rainbow map to 2nd place in six years. 

While we can be proud of this, our work is nowhere completed. 

Despite great progress in recent years, we have a long way to go before we can say we have reached gender equality at home, for all women, men and those who identify as neither.

Finally, Madame Chair,

Eradicating disparity between genders is not only the right thing to do, but it also increases prosperity and well-being in societies. 

In Iceland, we not only pride ourselves on valuing our diversity and gender equality, but we have seen first-hand that these values have also made us a stronger society and a more prosperous one. 

This is why we solemnly believe that by working towards gender equality, including in this Committee, we will progress towards a more equal and prosperous world. Let us create it together.

I thank you.