Ever since the first Equality laws were put in place in 1976 it has been mandatory for Icelandic schools to educate their students on equality of the genders and to prepare all genders to participate in family and work life.
The Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights Irrespective of Gender, states that the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science shall monitor compliance with gender equality in schools and educational institutions, including sports and leisure activities. The Ministry issues the National Curriculum for pre-schools, junior schools, and senior schools. Among six pillars that are to underpin all education one stands for equality. The equality pillar is comprised of several factors: age, class, culture, descent, gender, disability, language, nationality, outlook on life, race, religion, residence, sexual orientation. The Directorate of Equality works with schools to facilitate the implementation of gender equality education and gender equality action plans.
The duties according to art. 15 of the act on Equal Status and Equal Rights Irrespective of Gender no. 150/2020 are very clear.
Article 15
Education and schooling
The Ministry of Education’s responsibilities according to art. 15. Of the laws of equal status and equal rights of the sexes:
The school administration's responsibilities according to art. 14. Gender-based violence, gender-based harassment, and sexual harassment.
Word Definitions:
Direct discrimination
When an individual receives less favourable treatment than another individual receives, has received, or would receive in comparable situations, due to any of the factors mentioned in the first paragraph of Article 1.
Indirect discrimination
When an apparently neutral provision, criterion or practice puts individuals of one gender at a disadvantage compared with individuals of another gender, unless this can be objectively justified by a legitimate aim, and the means of achieving that aim are appropriate and necessary.
Multiple discrimination
When an individual is subjected to discrimination on the basis of more than one reason for discrimination that this Act, the Act on Equal Treatment Irrespective of Race or Ethnic Origin, and the Act on Equal Treatment on the Labour Market provide protection against. Multiple discrimination can either be integrated in such a way that two or more reasons for discrimination create a special basis for discrimination, or it can be dual/multiple so that the discrimination is based on two or more independent reasons for discrimination.
Gender-based harassment
Behaviour linked to the affected person’s gender, having the purpose or effect of offending the dignity of the person involved and creating circumstances that are threatening, hostile, degrading, humiliating or insulting for the person in question.
Sexual harassment
Any kind of sexual behaviour having the purpose or effect of offending the dignity of the person affected by it, especially when this behaviour creates circumstances that are threatening, hostile, degrading, humiliating or insulting for the person in question. The behaviour can be verbal, symbolic and/or physical.
Gender-based violence
Violence based on gender which results in, or could result in, physical, sexual or psychological injury or suffering on the part of the affected person, including the threat of such, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of freedom, both in private life and in a public venue.