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	Icelandic women strike against gender injustice by Reuters, agencies   24 Oct. 2023   Icelandic women went on a 24-hour strike on Tuesday over gender inequality, including the prime minister, who said the fight for equal treatment was moving far too slowly at home and abroad.   Across the island nation, schools and libraries were either closed or operated on limited hours as female staff stayed home, while hospitals said they would only handle emergency cases.   Joining the protest, Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said she would not come to work on Tuesday.   "Looking at the whole world, it could take 300 years to achieve gender equality," Ms Jakobsdottir told the Ras 1 public radio station.   The strike was called to protest against gaps in pay when compared to men and against gender-based violence, as well as to highlight the unpaid work such as such as child care that most often falls on women, organisers said.   Iceland is regarded as one of the world's most progressive countries in terms of gender equality and has topped the World Economic Forum's gender gap index 14 years in a row.   But in some industries and professions, women earn at least 20 per cent less than Icelandic men, according to Statistics Iceland.   Forty per cent of Icelandic women experience gender-based and sexual violence in their lifetime, a University of Iceland study found.   "We're seeking to bring attention to the fact that we're called an equality paradise, but there are still gender disparities and urgent need for action," said strike organiser Freyja Steingrimsdottir.   Tuesday's strike, under the slogan "Do you call this equality?", by Icelandic women was the first full-day strike since an inaugural women's protest in 1975.   "Female-led professions such as healthcare services and childcare are still undervalued and much lower paid," Ms Steingrimsdottir said.   Known as the "Kvennafri," or "Women's Day off," the walkout also highlighted the immense contribution of women in Icelandic society, organizers said.   Close to 40 organizations, including the Federation of the Public Workers Union, Iceland's largest association of public worker unions, joined the walkout.   "On October 24, all women in Iceland are encouraged to stop work, both paid and unpaid," event organizers said. "For the whole day, women will strike to demonstrate their contribution to society."   "This year, we strike for the whole day, just as women did in 1975. Systematic wage discrimination still affects women and gender-based violence is a pandemic that must be eradicated," organizers said.   On Oct. 24, 1975, almost 90% of women in Iceland went on strike to call for gender equality. The walkout was described as a "watershed" moment for Iceland, leading government leaders to pass the landmark Equality Act in 1976.
	Global gender equality in 2023: Urgent efforts needed to reach 2030 goals by UN Women, agencies   “Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2023” shows that urgent, determined action is needed to realize true gender equality.   This annual review by UN Women and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs examines the state of gender equality within the framework of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. At the current rate, we risk leaving more than 340 million women and girls in abject poverty by 2030, and an alarming number grappling with extreme food insecurity.   Even with significant progress in certain sectors, as we approach the halfway mark of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, monumental challenges remain:   Goal 1: No poverty: The report forecasts that by 2030, 8 per cent of the global female population (approximately 342 million women and girls) will continue to live on less than USD 2.15 a day. Only 42 per cent of countries have sex-disaggregated poverty data readily available, impeding targeted interventions.   Goal 2: Zero hunger: While progress in narrowing the gender gap in food insecurity has been made, at least 24 per cent of women and girls may still experience moderate to severe food insecurity by 2030. Gender disparities in agriculture persist, with limited access to land, resources, and ownership.   Goal 3: Good health and well-being: While maternal mortality reduced globally from 2000 to 2020, progress has stagnated since 2015. High maternal death rates in sub-Saharan Africa and Central/Southern Asia highlight inequalities in healthcare access and quality.   Goal 4: Quality education: Increases in girls’ enrolment in education are commendable, but nearly 110 million girls and young women may remain out of school by 2030 if progress stalls. Gender gaps in education and training opportunities persist, affecting future earning potential and overall development.   Goal 5: Gender equality: Gender equality sees limited progress, with just two of this goal’s indicators nearing their targets. No indicator has fully met its aim.   Deep-seated biases persist, marked by unequal health access, unequal political representation, economic gaps, and inadequate legal defences. Critical data for monitoring progress is missing in many countries. Furthermore, 28 countries do not recognize women’s equal rights in marriage and divorce. Globally, 19 per cent of young women are married before age 18, and there is a notable disparity in leadership roles.   A significant investment of an additional USD 360 billion annually is crucial to achieving gender equality, a cornerstone to meet broader sustainable development objectives.   Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation: While more women now have access to safe drinking water, around 380 million women and girls live amid high or critical water stress, a number projected to increase to 674 million by 2050 due to climate change.   Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy: Approximately 341 million women and girls could lack access to electricity by 2030, with clean cooking fuels remaining out of reach for many. Universal electricity could elevate 185 million women and girls from poverty by 2050, and modern cookstoves could prevent 6.5 million pollution-related deaths.   Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth: Disrupted careers, care responsibilities, and wage discrimination mean women only earn a third of the global income generated by labour. For each dollar men earned in labour income, women earned only 51 cents. The gender wage gap and under-representation of women in the labour force continue, indicating the need for policy reforms to ensure equitable opportunities and wages.   Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure: Women hold 21 per cent of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) jobs and only one in three researchers is a woman. Gender disparities in technology and innovation persist, hindering women’s participation in STEM fields and impeding progress in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.   Goal 10: Reduced inequalities: Gender discrimination comes in many forms and remains commonplace, undermining human rights. For example, according to latest available data, up to 21 per cent of people living with HIV reported being denied health care in the past 12 months, and up to 26 per cent of women living with HIV reported that their treatment for the virus was conditional on taking contraceptives.   Goal 11: Sustainable cities: By 2050, urban areas are expected to house 70 per cent of the world’s female population, totalling 3.3 billion. Alarming trends suggest a third of these women and girls may find themselves living in inadequate housing or slums. Moreover, women with disabilities, representing approximately 18 per cent of the female population, face heightened challenges. A 2022 study indicated that a mere 27 per cent of 190 countries and regions explicitly protected the rights of women with disabilities.   Goals 12–15: Responsible production and consumption, climate action, life below water, life on land: Up to 158 million more women and girls may find themselves in poverty by mid-century due to worsening conditions fuelled by global warming. An alarming 236 million more women and girls may experience food insecurity, compared to 131 million men and boys. Despite these numbers, only 55 of the world’s national climate action plans include gender-specific adaptation measures, and only 23 recognize the vital role of women as change agents in the fight against climate change.   Goal 16: Peace and strong institutions: Since 2017, the number of women and girls in conflict-ridden areas has surged by 50 per cent, tallying up to 614 million by 2022. In 2023, those in extremely fragile areas were especially vulnerable, facing higher poverty rates and increased food insecurity. Intimate partner violence is 2.4 times higher in extremely fragile contexts compared to non-fragile settings.   Goal 17: Partnerships: A dire need for enhanced financial backing exists in countries where gender equality lags the most. The yearly budget dedicated to gender equality as a principal objective remains low at USD 5.7 billion, just 4 per cent of total bilateral aid. This minimal support, coupled with the fact that only one in four countries actively tracks gender equality funding, underscores the challenges faced in achieving parity.   As the world’s population ages, older women’s challenges and contributions are often overlooked. Discrimination, economic insecurity, and violence plague older women, necessitating policies that support their engagement, healthcare, and well-being.   The “Gender snapshot 2023” underscores that gender equality is slipping further away, with various Sustainable Development Goals still far from achieving their targets. Urgent, coordinated efforts are imperative to accelerate progress by 2030, with enhanced funding, data tracking, policy reforms, and inclusive partnerships being key drivers of transformative change.   The report’s findings serve as a call for action to ensure that the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is fulfilled, leaving no woman or girl behind.   http://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2023/09/progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2023 http://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/in-focus/2023/11/in-focus-16-days-of-activism-against-gender-based-violence Visit the related web page
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