Two representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Equal Opportunities Division, which is the central national authority in the area of gender equality, participated in a two-day study visit to the institutions and actors responsible for adoption and implementation of gender equality policies, programmes and projects in Iceland. The study visit took place in the scope of bilateral cooperation under the EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014.
The overall aim of the study visit was to transfer knowledge and to collect and share experience and good practices in the area of gender equality at the local and national level, with a special emphasis on the following areas:
– violence against women,
– balanced representation of women and men in decision-making positions, and
– men and gender equality.
Slovenian representatives met with the representatives of the following six relevant Icelandic institutions to build relations or strengthen cooperation with them:
STÍGAMÓT – Education and Counseling Center for Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Violence,
City of Reykjavik – Human Rights Office,
Centre for Gender Equality,
University of Iceland,
Ministry of Industry and Innovation,
Women’s Shelter.
Meetings with various experts enabled discussions on experience in the design and implementation of gender equality policy with a particular focus on the adoption of the relevant legislation, implementation of projects and programmes preventing and fighting violence against women; on the adoption and monitoring of legislation governing gender-balanced representation in economic decision-making positions; and on the measures enhancing the involvement of men in gender equality promotion and implementation. The study visit helped the Slovenian participants build important relationships with the relevant Icelandic institutions in order to strengthen and upgrade the existing bilateral cooperation between Slovenia and Iceland in future under the Fund for Bilateral Relations at the national level of the EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 and the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 and under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 Programme “Towards Equalising Power Relations between Women and Men”.