Iceland announces men-only UN conference on women, gender equality

By Staff The Associated Press

Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, speaks during the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Monday, Sept. 29, 2014.

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

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Iceland is announcing a U.N. conference on women and gender equality – and only men and boys are invited.

The country’s foreign affairs minister told the U.N. General Assembly of world leaders on Monday that the January “barbershop” conference will be unique, “as it will be the first time at the United Nations that we bring together only men leaders to discuss gender equality.”

Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson says the meeting will have a special focus on violence against women.

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He says the conference convened by his country and Suriname will be an “exceptional contribution” to events marking the 20th anniversary of a landmark U.N. conference on women in Beijing.

He says, “We want to bring men and boys to the table on gender equality in a positive way.”