Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs and President of the Committee of Ministers Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, President of the Parliamentary Assembly Tiny Kox and Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić have made the following statement:

“Today, on International Women’s Day, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to ensuring gender equality and to protecting women’s rights. Men and boys can and should play a bigger role in advancing gender equality. They must be actors of positive change, challenging sexism and speaking up when they see women being harassed or treated unfairly”.

“Gender equality benefits everyone, men and women alike. No one should be tied to a specific gender role. Gender stereotypes perpetuate harmful ideas of what is considered “appropriate” behaviour – for both men and women – and constitute a barrier to real gender equality”.

“Gender inequality may also lead to violence. The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (known as Istanbul Convention) is the Organisation’s primary tool for combating gender-based violence and promoting gender equality. The convention calls on all members of society, especially men and boys, to contribute actively to preventing all forms of gender-based violence. The Council of Europe Gender Equality Strategy also encourages men and boys to promote gender equality. Very recently, a Parliamentary Assembly Resolution highlighted the crucial role and responsibility of men and boys in stopping gender-based violence”.

“Human rights are universal, and fighting against all forms of discrimination, including sexism and racism, is crucial for achieving equality and justice for all. Men leaders - whether in politics, in business, in the media, in sports or cultural institutions - must lead by example towards equality for all.”