When Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir launched Iceland’s presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers at the beginning of the year, she emphasised that gender equality and LGBTI work is one of the cornerstones of Nordic co-operation. In particular, she saw it as important to use the common Nordic voice to highlight the vulnerability of LGBTI people and the increasing incidence of threats and hatred in the Nordic Region and other parts of the world. To bring about change, the Icelandic presidency has initiated a campaign aimed at young Nordic citizens to prevent and combat hate speech, micro agression and harassment. The campaign is part of the roadmap established by the Nordic ministers for gender equality in 2022 (Pushing back the push-back: Nordic Roadmap on advancing gender equality, women’s and girls’ rights, and equal rights of LGBTI-persons).

It is extremely important to continue the fight against the backlash against gender equality and LGBTI rights. We have long and fruitful experience with Nordic cooperation in the field of equality, and cooperation between the Nordic countries on the LGBTI rights has also been successful in recent years. It is our duty to do our part as the rights of women and LGBTI people are under attack.

Katrín Jakobsdóttir:

One of the projects that follows in the wake of the Nordic ministers for gender equality’s plan to counteract the decline in the living conditions of LGBTI people is Trans people’s working conditions in the Nordic region. By combining national studies in the area, it is hoped to provide a clearer picture of the working conditions of trans people in the Nordic region. During the year, NIKK has arranged talks with LGBTI organisations in the Nordic region, with the Nordic anti-discrimination ombudsmen and has several events planned for 2024. It is hoped that documentation from these meetings will contribute further knowledge and fill knowledge gaps in the research overview on the working conditions of trans people that will be published next year.

Trans people have been attacked and marginalized in many ways, and there are many indications that their situation is worse than that of other groups within the LGBTI community. It is important to increase our knowledge of transgender issues so that appropriate action can be taken and prejudices can be countered through education in all areas of society.

Katrín Jakobsdóttir:

Studies show that LGBTI people experience particular challenges in life, but knowledge of the challenges faced by older LGBTI people is limited. During the Icelandic presidency, a Nordic initiative to compile knowledge about the living conditions of older LGBTI people and their encounters with health and social care has continued. The project has resulted in a Nordic report that was published in December and a high-level meeting on the subject organised in Reykjavik in late autumn. The meeting brought together researchers, civil society organisations, authorities and experts from across the Nordic Region to exchange knowledge and formulate opportunities and challenges. During 2024 results of the project will be disseminated through events and dialogues.