Women, Security, and Power on the frontline of this year´s International Women´s Day

On Thursday morning on the 6th of March, UN Women along with Iceland´s Disability Association and the EU Delegation to Iceland hosted a breakfast panel at the Human Rights House. The event was held on the occasion of the International Women´s Day on the 8th of March. The event was opened by Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir, Minister fo Justice which spoke about the importance of continous strive for both gender equality and human rights. Then, the Ambassador participated in panel discussions which had the theme of Women, Peace, and Security. The other panelists included Jónas G. Allansson, Director General, directorate for Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir, National Commissioner of the Police, and Olena Suslova, Founder of Women´s Information Consultative Center in Ukraine.  

The panelists spoke about the urgency to continue to strive for gender equality in the near future, especially in a changing geopolitical environment. The year of 2025 marks the 25 year anniversary of the UN resolution on Women, Peace and Security. The Ambassador highlighted the efforts made by the EU to implement the Women, Peace, and Security agenda into the main policy framework. She stressed the urgency to take a holistic approach and implement the policy in institutions on all levels to ensure the participation of women in security and peace issues. 

The discussions also shed a light on how crises have disporpotionate effects on different genders, but also on other marginalized groups such as people with disabilities. As Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir National Police Commissioner emphasized, "No one should be left behind, especially in crisis situations. Therefore, we need to be able to reach out to all groups in society". Jónas G. Allansson from the directorate for Defense argued that the issue of gender equality is not only about justice and fairness but also a matter of practicality. He emphasized that women are needed in all institutions in all fields to ensure a productive and successful defense policy. 

The event was well attended by politicians, guests from NGO´s, Embassies in Reykjavik and more. After the panel, guests were offered some light refreshments provided by the hosts.