Iceland stages sexual equality conference with a difference

[WildestDreams]

For men only: Iceland stages sexual equality conference with a difference

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 30 September, 2014, 11:28pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 01 October, 2014, 3:01am

Associated Press in New York

Iceland's Foreign Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson speaks during the general debate of the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Photo: Xinhua

Iceland has announced a UN conference on women and sexual equality - with only men and boys invited.

The country's foreign affairs minister told the UN General Assembly of world leaders on Monday that the January "barbershop" conference will be unique, "as it will be the first time at the United Nations that we bring together only men leaders to discuss gender equality".

Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson said the conference convened by his country and Surinam would be an "exceptional contribution" to events marking the 20th anniversary of a landmark UN conference on women in Beijing.

"We want to bring men and boys to the table on gender equality in a positive way," Sveinsson said. He said the meeting would have a special focus on violence against women.

The conference is part of a global campaign to get 100,000 men and boys involved in the fight for sexual equality, which the United Nations had hoped would be achieved by 2015.

That deadline won't be met - in an interview this year, the head of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, said projections indicate that if things don't change, achieving sexual equality will take 95 years.

Iceland and Surinam fall at nearly opposite ends of global rankings on women's rights. The Global Gender Gap Report 2013 compiled by the World Economic Forum ranked Iceland top in gender equality in economic, health and other matters.

The tiny South American country was ranked 110th.