Drífa Snædal, spokeswoman for Stígamót, said this in an interview with a news agency after the Minister of Justice’s briefing this morning, where measures against gender-based violence were presented.
This morning, Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir, Minister of Justice, presented a national plan against gender-based violence against women valid until 2030. This is the first time such a plan has been presented and it consists of 25 measures to ensure that Iceland fulfills the conditions of the Istanbul Convention, which was approved in 2011.
Among the main measures is to increase the punishment for buyers of prostitution with a bill this fall. The aim is for the minimum punishment to be a prison sentence and for the perpetrators to be named. Until then, institutions will be educated about honor-related violence and forced sterilizations will be made a criminal offense under the Criminal Code. Advocacy groups for victims of sexual violence welcomed the plans.
Need more prevention
“I think all the measures are beneficial. I think it is very beneficial that we have a national plan to combat men’s violence against women. This is based on the issue of court cases,” says Drífa, who notes that it is important that various forms of gender-based violence are recognized by the system. It has been a steep climb to get it recognized in society that there is a problem.
“We’ve been talking a lot about prevention, because it’s very important that young people understand what acceptance, boundaries and respect in relationships are,” she says, reiterating the importance of non-governmental organizations coming to the table.
“We are the ones who have been fighting this battle for decades. It is important that our knowledge and experience is used.”
She welcomes the Minister of Justice’s bill on prostitution.
“I think it is crucial that there are consequences for offending against women. This bill is of such a nature that it will be confirmed.”
A dream come true
Jenný Kristín Valberg, project manager of Stígamót, says that a dream is coming true with the new actions of the Minister of Justice.
“It’s very ambitious and actually beyond my wildest hopes. I’m still kind of taking it all in because it’s not every day that you actually get almost all your wishes fulfilled. I think it’s well thought out. I think they’ve touched on most of the most difficult issues that we’ve been trying to draw attention to for a long time.”
She welcomes the changes that were made this week to the law on restraining orders and evictions. The change can make a difference.
“So, of course, they’re going to change the legislation around people who buy into human traffickers. So there’s going to be a big deterrent in that there’s going to be a sentence and the publicity that comes with that. Because this fine that’s been there now, it doesn’t leave any traces on your criminal record. And I think that’s going to reduce the demand, which reduces the supply. So hopefully it will be possible to get a better handle on this issue.”
Asked if something is outstanding or could be done better in the operations.
“These are ambitious goals, and the problem must of course be to follow up on this. I am optimistic that with a conversation with all the parties involved in these matters, this can go on a successful and good path.”
