ICELAND'S STATE TREASURY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE TOLD

18 January 1996

Press Release
WOM/880

ICELAND'S STATE TREASURY TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE TOLD

19960118 Committee Experts Welcome Efforts to Promote Equality; Call for More Statistics in Future Reports

A law making Iceland's State Treasury responsible for damages to victims of domestic violence would take effect in the middle of this year, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was told this morning as it began considering that country's initial and second report. The 23-member expert Committee monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Introducing the report, the Social Affairs Minister of Iceland, Pall Peteursson, said a committee to study ways to improve the status of victims of domestic violence had been established by the Ministry of Justice last year. It was studying whether the victims ought to be provided with legal assistance.

Commenting on political and legal rights in his country, he said women enjoyed the same rights as men. However, in reality there were often disparities, and wage differences continued to persist. He informed the Committee of the establishment of an Equal Status Council and a Complaints Committee to look into wage discrimination.

While commending Iceland's efforts to promote equality, some experts deplored the lack of statistics in the report. To enable them to carry out an analysis of the de facto rights of women in that country, they said comprehensive statistics should be provided in future reports. They also expressed concern that provisions of the Convention had not been incorporated into national legislation. More information should be provided on such issues as the compensation to victims of domestic violence, the status of part-time women workers, wage disparities and paternity leave. Detailed information was also sought on the women's political party, as well as the impact of women's increased representation in government on policy making.

The Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. today to continue its examination of Iceland's report.

Committee Work Programme

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women meets this morning to begin examining the reports of Iceland. It has before it that country's combined initial and second periodic report (CEDAW/C/ICE/1-2), which covers the period until 31 December 1991, as well as supplementary information provided by the Government yesterday, which has not been issued as a United Nations document.

Included in the supplementary information is a publication entitled "Parliamentary Resolution on a Four-Year Plan of Action for Measures to Establish Equality between Women and Men", which describes measures under way in Iceland to establish equality between the sexes during the period 1993 to 1997. By the new plan of action, the Government is entrusted with the objective of achieving 30 per cent representation of women on government committees by 1997. The Plan places emphasis on the duties of ministers to work towards bringing about equality between men and women in the public and private sectors. The supplement also contains a summary of a report on the formation of wages and sex-related wage disparity.

The combined initial and second report of Iceland states that since women in that country enjoy legal equality with men, the Government has concentrated efforts in recent years towards establishing equality in practice and counteracting the traditional attitudes towards the roles of the sexes.

On education, the Government has focused primarily on increasing women's education and enabling them to become established in the labour force. According to the report, women now constitute the majority of students graduating from secondary schools, and about 48 per cent of students graduating from the University of Iceland.

Regarding women and the labour market, the report states that the situation has improved greatly in recent years, with a great increase in the number of women with university degrees holding specialist positions in government service. The proportion of women holding management positions or positions of responsibility within the ministries' central offices increased from 24 per cent in 1985 to 32 per cent in 1987. While statistics are lacking on the position of women in the private sector, the report states that it is poorer than in the service of the State and local authorities. The report also says that, so far, affirmative action has not been resorted to in order to improve women's opportunities in the labour market.

Despite legislation which provides for equal wages and employment benefits for equally valuable and comparable work, the report states that various surveys indicate the existence of considerable differences in the income levels of men and women. The initial findings of a 1984 study reveal that -- considering wages for daytime work alone -- women receive about 90 per

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cent of men's wages. However, a comparison of total wages reveals that men's wages are 40 per cent higher than those of women. This is partly explained by the fact that women are concentrated in various commerce and service occupations where they earn about half of what men earn. The supplement provided by the Government of Iceland contains a summary of a recent research project on wage disparity.

The report states that women enjoy increased participation in politics. Several political parties have adopted the rule that within their leadership structure there should be a minimum of 40 per cent representative of either sex, and this rule has given rise to substantial results. At present, the percentage of women sitting on local councils is 23 per cent, and the percentage of women on town councils is 32 per cent.

There are various factors indicating that the increased employment participation of women has not altered women's traditional role within the home, according to the report. Women are increasingly burdened by a double work load, with paid employment outside the home and care of the family and housework inside the home.

Legislation provides for six months maternity leave, and employers are prohibited to dismiss a pregnant woman or a parent on parental leave, according to the report. Benefits on parental leave are either paid directly by the employer or by the State Social Security Institute. Women employed by the State, municipalities, banks and a few other employers receive payments directly from employers with full pay for the first three months and the basic monthly pay for the second three months. The benefits paid by the Social Security Institute are either a "birth allowance" that is related to labour force participation or a "birth grant" which is not. All pregnant women are entitled to free medical services during pregnancy and a free hospital stay for the delivery of the child. There is also a provision obliging employers to move a pregnant woman to another position if her current job threatens her life or health or that of the fetus. In addition, labour agreements guarantee the right of parents to be absent from work because of sick children under the age of 13.

The report states that women and men enjoy equal rights to primary healthcare with such services subsidized by the public authorities. Abortions are permitted both on medical and social grounds.

According to the report, there has been much debate in the past few years on violence against women and children in the home. While it was generally believed that violence in the family was rare in the country, the report states that "research has now established a different picture". In 1982, an association called the Coalition for a Women's Shelter was established by a group of interested people, and demand for its services has been "much greater than anyone had expected". The Shelter receives subsidies

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from the State and several of the largest municipal authorities. Volunteers are also working with women and children who have been sexually abused.

Regarding prostitution, the report states that the practice is believed to be uncommon in Iceland. Under the penal code, "the exploitation of other people's looseness is subject to up to four years' imprisonment".

The report states that while in the Constitution it is assumed that all citizens enjoy the same human rights, the Constitution does not specifically provide for equality between men and women. The equality legislation in force at present is the 1991 Law on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men. It is implemented by the Equal Status Council, a seven-member appointed body that is responsible for monitoring social developments and making policy. The Council prepares a plan of action for four years at a time and presents it to the Minister for Social Affairs for presentation to the Parliament, to be incorporated into a four-year programme with a detailed plan of action. The latest Plan of Action is contained on the supplement provided by Iceland.

There is a special Complaints Committee on matters of sexual equality. According to the report, if the Committee reaches the conclusion that there had been a violation, it addresses substantiated recommendations for specific amendments to the parties concerned. If a party does not agree to the recommendations, the Committee is permitted to take legal action on behalf of the party against whom the violation occurred in the judgement of the Committee.

The Equal Status and Equal Rights Law also stipulates that each municipality with at least 500 inhabitants shall appoint an equal rights committee. Such committees initiate special temporary measures to improve the status of women in the local government area.

The report concludes that the largest obstacles to equality between men and women in Iceland are the prevailing attitudes towards the sexes and the roles of women and men, as well as women's social circumstances. It states that efforts are being made under the auspices of public authorities to change the prevailing attitudes and improve women's social circumstances.

Introduction of Report

Introducing his country's report, PALL PETEURSSON, Minister for Social Affairs of Iceland, said it dealt with human rights and the rights of women and the efforts to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women until 1991.

He said some changes had been made in 1994 to the 1991 law on equal rights between men and women which further ensured all persons equality before

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the law. Although the provision had ensured legal equality between the sexes, in reality the status of women was not the same as that of men.

To enable true equality between men and women, a special Equal Status Council had been established, he said. Under the Council, a Complaints Committee had been set up to look into complaints of discrimination in the wage market. The Committee had been dealing with an average of 14 complaints a year. The Committee's decisions were not binding; however, if its recommendations were not heeded by employers, it could help complainants file court cases.

The Minister added that a four-year plan to achieve equality between men and women had been started in 1991. Its main emphasis was on the promotion of equality in schools, improving the status of women in the labour market and on improving the social rights.

The Ministry of Justice had established in 1995 a committee to study ways to improve the status of victims of domestic violence, Mr. Peteursson said. The Committees was studying whether the victims of violence ought to be provided with legal assistance. Amendments to the law were required in that regard. Currently, under the law, a ruling by a judge was required for an injunction against proximity. However, that arrangement had failed to provide adequate protection to the victims. Additionally, a law had been passed in 1995 which made the State Treasury responsible for damages to victims of violence. The law would take effect in mid-1996. Recorded data had shown that domestic violence in Iceland was no less than in neighbouring countries.

The most common punishment for rape was 18 to 24 months in jail for perpetrators, he added. To strengthen men's attitude at work regarding equality, the Equal Status Council had created a special Men's Committee. One of the goals of the Committee had been to provide offenders with an opportunity for group therapy.

In December 1982, a Women's Shelter had been opened in Reykjavik, he said. Absolute anonymity to women seeking help was guaranteed; and 2,173 women had sought shelter as at the end of last year. In March 1993 a special emergency ward for rape victims had been opened in Reykjavik. The service had been available free-of-charge to all victims, regardless of their decision to press charges. Prostitution was punishable by law. Any kind of encouragement to engage in prostitution was also punishable.

Both sexes enjoyed equal political rights, he said. Since 1911 women had enjoyed equal rights to hold public office. Voting rates in Iceland had been among the highest in democratic countries. However, in running for office women had faced obstacles. Currently, 16 seats in the Parliament were held by women and three of the six parties in Parliament had women leaders.

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Education was compulsory for children between the ages of six and sixteen, he said. However, in advanced courses of study, conventional choices in subjects studied by men and women had emerged. The selection of subjects of study by boys had been significantly more varied which had given them an edge in the job market.

Men and women in the country had same rights to unemployment benefits, he added. However, there was a significant wage difference for which conventional explanations had been provided. Currently the act on maternity leave was being revised to provide men with more time for child rearing.

Women in Iceland had equal rights to own property and enter into contract and each person had the freedom to decide his or her own residence, he said. However, there was no separate legislation to deal with sexual harassment at work as it was understood to be covered by the law on equal rights.

Discussion of Report

Committee experts generally praised the report and the oral statement, which provided updated information on the status of women in Iceland. They also praised the Government for its commitments expressed at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing last September. However dissatisfaction was expressed over the lack of statistics in the written report. Such information should be provided in future so that an analysis could be made of both the de jure and de facto rights of women. One expert requested that supplementary information, if available, be provided to Committee members on a more timely basis.

The Chairman, IVANKA CORTI of Italy, expressed appreciation for the focus on human rights education, and violence against women.

One expert said the Government should consider incorporating the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women into national legislation. Another expert asked for more information on women's non-governmental organizations, and the actual responsibility of the executive powers with regard to the public policies of women. Another expert expressed satisfaction at the announcement of the appointment of a Children's Ombudsman.

With respect to implementation of article 2, by which States parties agree to combat discrimination against women in various ways, including the adoption of laws prohibiting discrimination, one expert asked for more information on the Complaints Committee that was established by the 1991 equal rights law. What was the status of courts to protect women's rights and were they sufficiently prepared to act? She noted that there were less than 20

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complaints brought before the Complaints Committee in 1994. Could women face repercussions if they brought their complaints to the Committee?

Another expert asked how violations of the Convention were addressed nationally. She also asked who in the Government was responsible for monitoring the Beijing Platform for Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women.

Turning to article 3, which says that States parties agree to make changes in their laws as necessary to guarantee women their basic rights and freedoms, an expert asked for clarification of the dates of the four-year plans of action to improve equality between the sexes. She also requested that detailed information be included in future reports on the outcome of those plans.

On article 4, which states that temporary measures taken to accelerate women's equality, as well as maternity protection measures, shall not be considered discriminatory, an expert asked if there was an ongoing evaluation system concerning the four-year plans of action. She also asked whether there were plans to form a new equality ombudsman, and to combat the problem of wage disparity between the sexes. Another expert asked if there were temporary measures taken by the Government to accelerate equality. She also requested more information on paternity leave and whether men had actually requested it.

Another expert asked if there was a special agency that dealt directly with women's issues. Was the Equal Status Council an advisory body or a policy-making body and did it have a special budget to work on equality issues? She also asked who headed the Council and whether it formulated temporary measures to improve equality. Another expert asked how they had been compensated and how they had been selected for compensation.

Under article 5, by which States parties are required to eliminate practices based on the idea of the inferiority or superiority of either sex, and to ensure that family education teaches that men and women share a common role in bringing up children, an expert said she was dismayed by the indication in the report that the principles of the Convention could not be applied in the courts of Iceland. She wanted to know what types of educational programmes were offered to personnel in the justice system to help them understand the impact of discrimination and violence on women. Another expert requested more information on government efforts to combat sexist stereotypes; another commended Iceland's efforts to combat violence in the family and requested more information on compensation to victims. She asked whether the Government had plans to establish government-run shelters and whether rape was a serious problem.

One expert, drawing attention to article 7, which states that women shall share on equal terms with men in the political and public life of the

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country, asked whether there were women judges in the high court. She wanted to know the percentage of women in the legal system. Another expert, noting that quotas had achieved considerable results in increasing the number of women in public positions, wondered why they had not been introduced at the State level. Another expert asked for a more detailed description of Iceland's women's party, and the percentage of votes it received based on gender. She asked whether the increase of women's participation in government office had led to an increase in policy-making which promoted women's rights.

On article 10, which calls for women to be granted equal rights with men in education, an expert deplored the lack of statistics in Iceland's report and asked for a better statistical picture in future reports. She also asked whether women's studies were available in the curricula of schools and if teaching on sex education was incorporated into education programmes. She also questioned whether re-entry training was included in vocational training programmes.

Turning to article 11, which obliges States to eliminate discrimination against women in employment, and to prevent discrimination against women on the grounds of marriage or maternity, an expert deplored the lack of employment statistics in the report and requested that it be corrected in the future. She also asked for more information on the category of women affected by unemployment. Noting that 80 per cent of married women were in the labour force, she asked if 80 per cent of married women with pre-school aged children were employed. She also asked why working women worked such long hours and why such a high percentage of women worked part time. Were most of the female part-time workers single parents? She asked if there were enough spaces in the day-care centres. Since there was no information on unpaid labour, she asked if there was any kind of survey to determine the value of unpaid work done by women in Iceland. With men working an average of 52 hours per week, she asked how they could help in the home.

Another expert asked why employment of women, particularly married women, had risen to such an extent. She asked whether there were different minimum wages for different occupations. Regarding wage parity, she wondered whether the evaluations being done on the issue had analysed the value of social work and other occupations where women tended to cluster, since it was usually undervalued. She said women often constituted the majority of part- time workers. Were conditions and benefits different in part-time work? She also wondered why day care for children appeared to be only part time and asked if schools ran all day. Another expert questioned whether women held double part-time jobs and whether there was a wage disparity between the salaries of part-time workers based on gender. She asked whether the Government had measures to improve employment options of women in rural areas.

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