News - 17.10.2025

Time‘s Up!

We will join hands on October 24 to honor and draw inspiration from the women who came before us, and to demand real change to eradicate gender-based violence, the gender pay gap, and inequality. Together, we will change society — for ourselves, for women and non-binary people, for the future. We will show up until there is no longer a need to do so.

Women and non-binary people who can, will stop both paid and unpaid work for the entire day — they will not go to work, care for children or family members, but instead ask male family members to take over those duties. They will refrain from all activities that could be considered work, whether paid employment or unpaid responsibilities such as child care, housework, or the so-called third shift. See Q&A about the Women’s Strike here.

We tell the women and non-binary people around us about what is happening and encourage them to take part — especially those of foreign origin. We urge employers to support their employees in practice by enabling women and non-binary people to participate in the fight for gender equality through the Women's Strike.

Workplaces vary, and in some places it is not possible to completely stop work due to safety or health concerns. We encourage essential employees to participate in other ways, for example by showing solidarity on social media using the hashtags #kvennaverkfall and #ómissandi.

Women and non-binary people participating in the Women’s Strike on October 24 in the capital area and surrounding regions will gather in solidarity at Sóleyjargata 1, where a historical walk begins at 13:30, followed by an outdoor rally at Arnarhóll at 15:00. A number of events are being planned for the day itself and the lead-up to it across the country. Further information is continuously updated on kvennaar.is.

The Demands of Women

50 years have passed since women in this country first called for the Women’s Strike, and despite decades of struggle, equality is not in sight. Reports of gender-based violence are increasing, the gender pay gap is widening, and there is inequality in the division of household duties.

At the Women’s Strike rally in 2023, demands for change were presented, later formalized by the Executive Committee of the Women’s Year as concrete actions. These were handed over to the government with a one-year deadline, until October 24, 2025, to implement them. These include demands for legislative changes, measures against violence, closing the gender pay gap, improving the status of mothers, and eliminating discrimination in the labor market.

Now the reckoning is due — but the Executive Committee’s dashboard shows that little has been done.

The demands for action include:

• Eradicate gender-based violence
  40% of women in Iceland have experienced gender-based violence.
• Correct the undervaluation of women’s jobs
  The difference in employment income between women and men is around 20%, and the gender pay gap is over 10% and growing.
• Enshrine the right to preschool for children after parental leave
  Women still bear more responsibility for child care; one in four works part-time, and many leave the labor market to bridge the gap.
• Ensure education on equality and gender-based violence at all school levels
  12% of girls in 10th grade have been raped by a peer, and half have experienced digital sexual violence.