About the GEA Project

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Gender Equality in the Arctic (GEA) is an international collaborative Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) project focusing on gender equality in the Arctic. We highlight the importance of recognition and appreciation of diversity in terms of discourses, gender, indigenous and non-indigenous peoples, governance, education, economies, social realities, sustainability and balanced participation in leadership and decision making in both the public and private spheres.

The purpose of this project is to promote an extensive, policy-relevant dialogue on issues of gender equality in the Arctic region in the context of current realities in terms of economic and social development as well as current and future challenges, inter alia relating to climatic and environmental changes.

Project Background

The geopolitical and global economic significance of the Arctic region has been growing fast, inter alia because of climate change as well as resource and economic development. The changes we witness in the Arctic – ecological, social and economic – affect both men and women, although sometimes in different ways.

In the autumn of 2013 a proposal was submitted to the Arctic Council for a project aimed to promote a dialogue on gender equality in the Arctic region and to raise awareness of the situation of women and men in the Arctic. This would include addressing key issues such as control over resources, representation in decision-making, political participation, and material and cultural well-being.

The gap between women and men with regard to economic participation and political empowerment remains wide and must continue to be addressed. Our common goal is to secure equal opportunities for men and women, to enable boys and girls to lead the lives they desire in a world without discrimination on their own terms. This subject must become an integral part of Arctic policies in order to strengthen social well-being and support sustainable development in the region.

The Gender Equality in the Arctic project is endorsed by the Arctic Council Sustainable Development Working Group.

Project Development

PHASE I. 2013-2015. Conference and Report

Project partners in the circumpolar region joined hands to organize the international conference Gender Equality in the Arctic – Current realities, future challenges. The conference took place in Akureyri, Iceland in October 2014 and attracted 150 scholars, NGOs, politicians, government and business representatives from all the Arctic States.

The outcome of Phase I was the Gender Equality in the Arctic: Current realities, future challenges report (pub. 2015), which builds on the comprehensive presentations and discussions that took place during the conference in Akureyri. The report contributes to advancing debate and research on gender issues and calls attention to the continued disparity between women and men with regard to economic participation and political empowerment.

PHASE II. 2017-2019. Network and Project Website

Phase II built on the success of the conference and report, both of which were well received. The purpose of Phase II was to promote and expand the dialogue on gender, diversity and equality in the Arctic and to provide a formal network of groups and experts in issues of gender, diversity and equality in the Arctic, while encouraging cooperation with and between existing networks. The result is the GEA webpage, an online platform for material and events relevant to gender, diversity and equality in the Arctic.

The outcomes of Phase II are spread through our Twitter, Facebook and VK accounts and materials regarding issues of gender and equality in the Arctic region are constantly being added to the GEA website. A formal network of organizations, projects and experts which are engaged in issues of gender and equality in the Arctic is also constantly being developed as the project moves forward.

PHASE III. 2019-2021. Together Towards a Sustainable Arctic

Phase III was announced in May 2019, following the handover of the Arctic Council Chairmanship from Finland to Iceland. The GEA is a Sustainable Development Working Group (SDWG) project as well as a project under the Icelandic Chairmanship Programme 2019-2021.

The Icelandic Chairmanship Program - Together Towards a Sustainable Arctic – will include four main priority areas:

  1. The Arctic Marine Environment

  2. Climate and Green Energy Solutions

  3. People and Communities of the Arctic

  4. A Stronger Arctic Council.

The GEA III falls under the priority 4, People and Communities of the Arctic, which includes initiatives that aim to promote the wellbeing of the roughly four million people living in the region.

Authors of the Project

The project was originally initiated by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Iceland and was developed in cooperation with the Stefansson Arctic Institute and the Icelandic Centre for Gender Equality. Since then it has been developed through the input of many people and partners, all of whom the GEA project owes a debt of gratitude. The GEA project is currently managed by Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network in Akureyri, which has been instrumental in advancing the project from Phase I.

Partners & Collaborators

We are grateful for the sponsorship of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, the Icelandic government’s Equality Action Fund, the Foreign Ministry of Sweden, and the Nordic Council of Ministers. We are further grateful for the important support of the Arctic Council, Sweden, Finland, Norway, the Faroe Islands and the Aleut International Association.

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ArticleJónas