Japan Press Weekly

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2023 May 24 - 30 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

JCP interviews Icelandic ambassador about gender equality

The gender equality commission of the Tokyo Metropolitan Committee of the Japanese Communist Party organized an open seminar on May 28 to listen to Icelandic Ambassador to Japan Stefan Haukur Johannesson's views regarding gender equality.

The ambassador introduced his home country as the nation at the top of the global gender equality rankings for thirteen consecutive years and also at the top of the global peace rankings for fourteen years in a row.

He explained that back in 1975, 90% of women in Iceland went on strike over their paid jobs and unpaid household labor to seek gender equality. Consequently, a woman president was democratically elected for the first time in the world and a political party consisting of only women was born. These phenomena gave rise in heated congressional discussions on child welfare and childcare leave.

The ambassador went on to say that Iceland has a system enabling all parents to take six months of parental leave. He added that yet, environment-building efforts are necessary so that men taking childrearing leave become common, and that men should be responsible both for childrearing and household tasks. This will give a boost to the participation of more women in society, he stated.

To the question about how progress for gender equality should proceed, he answered that to promote comprehensive discussions among many people from various social backgrounds will be key. Pointing out that gender equality is an issue not only for women but also for society as a whole, he stressed that obtaining gender equality will undoubtedly bring about the wellbeing of the entire community, regardless of biological sex or gender identity.