Women – stop working
Equality now!

Now is the chance to play a role in making of the history of women in Iceland. You can play a role by participating in the Women’s Day Off on 24th of October, held to mark the occasion that 30 years have passed since 25.000 women in Iceland walked out from their workplaces to take the day off.

Women are encouraged to stop working at 2:08 pm on October 24th. Icelandic women earn 64.15% of what men earn, therefore at 2:08 pm will have worked 64.15% of a normal 9-5 working day.
Women will march the streets of Reykjavík under the slogan "Women, let's be loud". The idea behind the march is that women have been quiet long enough, and it's now time for them to make some noise - "demand equality now". The march will start at 15:00 at Skólavörðuholt, down Skólavörðustig and end at Ingólfstorg.

The protest meeting will be held at Ingólfstorg starting at 16:00. Short speeches will be held and there will also be a culture programme.

The goal of this year's Woman's Day is the same as it was 30 years ago, show the value of the contribution of women for the Icelandic economy. Nowhere in the world is women’s participation in the job market as high as in Iceland.

Organisations that are behind the 24th of October Women’s Day Off: The Feminist Association of Iceland, Union of Women’s Organisations, Women’s Church, Womens’ Rights Association, Women’s History Museum, W.O.M.E.N. in Iceland, Women’s Safe Shelter, RIKK: The Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Iceland, Stígamót (Icelandic counselling and information center for survivors of sexual violence) and UNIFEM in Iceland. Those organisations have already organised Women’s meeting at Þingvellir on 19. June to mark the 90th anniversary of women’s right to vote in Iceland.

Trade union organisations ASÍ, BHM, BSRB and KÍ are also participating in organization of the event.

• women’s salary in Iceland is only 64,15% of men’s
• women get 72% of men’s salary for working the same number of hours
• having children has a negative effect on women’s salary, but a positive effect on men’s
• many women live in fear and insecurity in their own homes
• one out of three women becomes victim of gender related violence in her lifetime
• women do not get credit due for their education
• women in business have less access to finance
• responsibility for upbringing of children and domestic work is still largely on women’s shoulders
• jobs involving caretaking are among the lowest paying jobs in the job market
• women’s voice is still not loud enough in the media
• women’s bodies are treated as merchandise
• a woman has never been prime minister, bank manager or bishop
• women have never occupied half the seats in parliament
• women are not treated as equal to men
• this has to be changed. I dare, I can, I will do it!