Iceland has announced a UN conference on women and gender equality - at which only men will be invited.
In what has been dubbed the “barbershop conference", it will be the
"first time at the United Nations that we bring together only men
leaders to discuss gender equality", according to the country's Foreign
Affairs minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson.
"We want to bring men and boys to the table on gender equality in a positive way," Sveinsson said. He said the meeting will have a special focus on violence against women.
It is aimed at being part of the global campaign launched this month when actress Emma Watson articulated the urgent need to bring men into the fight for gender equality.
“In 1995, Hillary Clinton made a famous speech in Beijing about women's rights,” Watson said.
“But what stood out for me the most was that only 30 per cent of her audience were male. How can we affect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation?”
The 1995 conference featured Clinton, then first lady, galvanizing global leaders with her now-famous declaration that "women's rights are human rights." Nearly 190 countries adopted a platform to achieve equality for women, which has become the blueprint for action by the global community on the issue.
Iceland and Suriname are now leading a group of countries to stir up support for gender equality as the anniversary of the landmark Beijing meeting approaches.
"We want to bring men and boys to the table on gender equality in a positive way," Sveinsson said. He said the meeting will have a special focus on violence against women.
It is aimed at being part of the global campaign launched this month when actress Emma Watson articulated the urgent need to bring men into the fight for gender equality.
“In 1995, Hillary Clinton made a famous speech in Beijing about women's rights,” Watson said.
“But what stood out for me the most was that only 30 per cent of her audience were male. How can we affect change in the world when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation?”
The 1995 conference featured Clinton, then first lady, galvanizing global leaders with her now-famous declaration that "women's rights are human rights." Nearly 190 countries adopted a platform to achieve equality for women, which has become the blueprint for action by the global community on the issue.
Iceland and Suriname are now leading a group of countries to stir up support for gender equality as the anniversary of the landmark Beijing meeting approaches.
Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/heforshe-campaign-iceland-to-follow-up-emma-watson-speech-with-un-womens-rights-conference--for-men-only-9764227.html
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