In the annual meeting of the Icelandic Women’s Rights Association (IWRO) on the 15th of April, the decision was taken to establish its youth council. The date of the decision  coincided with the birthday of Madam Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the former President of Iceland. The first woman in the world to be democratically elected as a Head of State in 1980 and who turned 95 on April 15!

The ones organising the establishment of the council are all participants in the Femme Empower project.

The name of the youth council is Laufey. It was proposed by one of the Femme Empower participants who knew the story of the daughter of Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir, the woman founding the IWRO together with her fellow women human rights defenders. The daughter, Laufey Valdimarsdóttir, took after her mother and was the first young woman taking the entry exams into the Reykjavík Junior College. That college was the most privileged place to study and become a civil servant. Only boys could study there until 1904. The option for girls was the Women‘s Junior College where home economics was the primary education. Laufey graduated in 1910 and in 1927, or 20 years after the IWRO was founded, she took over from her mother as chairperson.

The mandate of Laufey is the following:

  • Ensure that the perspectives and the opinions of young people are taken into account in the work of the IWRO
  • Create an entry point for young people to join IWRO
  • Increase knowledge and awareness among young people about equality issues
  • Increase collaboration with other youth councils both in Iceland and internationally.

The establishment of the youth council is partly a response to the current backlash against gender equality, women‘s rights and rights of queer people organised and funded by special interest groups according to Neil Datte, the Secretary General of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, in an interview on the Icelandic State TV.

The founding meeting of the council will be on the 27th of September, i.e. the birthday of Bríet, the mother of Laufey.

Young people in the age between 18 and 35 years old irrespective of sex and gender can become founding members with the aim to promote women‘s rights and gender equality and contribute towards the goals of the council.

Also, those who are interested in assisting the Femme Empower group organising the founding meeting are most welcome to join. You can send an email to femempowericeland@gmail.com and we will get back to you ASAP!

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