Call for gender equality in the Faroes
“The Faroe Islands have some way to go in terms of gender equality. Getting more women involved in politics would help,” Anna Ljunggren, a member of the Nordic Council Citizens' and Consumer Rights Committee said when she and other women on the committee met the Faroese media during the committee's summer meeting in the islands.
Satu Haapanen is interviewed by Faroese radio
Anna Ljunggren, Satu Haapanen and Maria Stenberg spoke to the Faroese press and radio about the importance of women in politics and business, citing the Norwegian quota system as one way of tackling the issue. Kristianna Winther Poulsen of the Faroese Gender Equality Board explained the important role tradition still plays in Faroese society, and how it means women are still the primary care givers to the young and old. She added that the increasing number of women who travel abroad to study and do not return is another increasing problem.
“Parental rights is one tangible example where the Faroes are noticeably different from the other Nordic countries, both in the nature and duration of paternity leave and the nature of the legislation. The argument that fathers work a lot, especially as fishermen, does not wash,” Stenberg pointed out.
The main discussions during the committee meeting centred on the issues of Denmark expelling Nordic citizens and the idea of a joint Nordic deposit scheme for bottles and cans.
“As far as deposits are concerned over a billion empty cans bypass the system and after several years of working on the question we are not prepared to let it go,” said Martin Kolberg, the deputy chair of the committee. “Where there is a will there is a way,” as the committee put it.
The committee is not satisfied with the responses it has received from the governments and from the Nordic Council of Ministers and will continue to pursue both the expulsion and the deposit issues.
The Citizens' and Consumer Committee also visited the Legal Committee in the Faroese parliament, where it heard about the heavy punishments imposed on drug crime due to the severe consequences of drugs for such a small society. Several of the members expressed interest in gay and lesbian rights in the Faroes, where same-sex couples are not entitled to enter into registered partnerships or adopt children, and where discrimination against homosexuals has not been made illegal.
The Committee also visited the Faroese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The main Faroese foreign policies are to promote free trade, exert influence on fisheries policy and achieve full membership of relevant organisations, including the Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers.
For further information about the expulsion and deposit issues, please click on the link below.
Contacts
Jenny Pentler
Phone
+45 33 96 0445
Email
jepe@norden.org
