Iceland: Difference between revisions
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== LGBT rights == | == LGBT rights == | ||
Iceland is liberal about | Iceland is liberal about [[LGBT]] rights issues. In 1996, the Icelandic parliament passed legislation to create registered partnerships for same-sex couples, conferring nearly all the rights and benefits of marriage. In 2006, parliament voted unanimously to grant same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples in adoption, parenting, and assisted insemination treatment. In 2010, the Icelandic parliament amended the marriage law, making it gender-neutral and defining marriage as between two individuals, making Iceland one of the first countries in the world to legalise same-sex marriage. The law took effect on 27 June 2010.[272] The amendment to the law also means registered partnerships for same-sex couples are now no longer possible, and marriage is their only option—identical to the existing situation for opposite-sex couples. | ||
{{wikimain|LGBT rights in Iceland}} | {{wikimain|LGBT rights in Iceland}} | ||
Revision as of 01:01, 25 October 2024
| Iceland |
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(and Iceland's largest city) |
Source information is available at [ Sources ] |
Iceland is a Nordic island country between the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and the region's most sparsely populated country. Its capital and largest city is Reykjavík, home to about 36% of the country's roughly 380,000 residents. The official language of the country is Icelandic.
Iceland is on a rift between tectonic plates, and its geologic activity includes geysers and frequent volcanic eruptions. The interior consists of a volcanic plateau characterized by sand and lava fields, mountains, and glaciers, and many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. The Gulf Stream warms Iceland, and despite its latitude just south of the Arctic Circle, it has a temperate climate. Its latitude and marine influence keep summers chilly, and most islands have a polar climate.
According to the ancient manuscript Landnámabók, Iceland's settlement began in 874 AD, when the Norwegian chieftain Ingólfr Arnarson became the island's first permanent settler. In the following centuries, Norwegians and, to a lesser extent, other Scandinavians immigrated to Iceland, bringing thralls (i.e., slaves or serfs) of Gaelic origin.
The island was governed as an independent commonwealth under the native parliament, the Althing, one of the world's oldest functioning legislative assemblies. After a civil strife, Iceland acceded to Norwegian rule in the 13th century. In 1397, Iceland followed Norway's integration into the Kalmar Union with the kingdoms of Denmark and Sweden, coming under de facto Danish rule upon its dissolution in 1523. The Danish kingdom introduced Lutheranism by force in 1550, and the Treaty of Kiel formally ceded Iceland to Denmark in 1814.
Influenced by ideals of nationalism after the French Revolution, Iceland's struggle for independence took form. It culminated in the Danish–Icelandic Act of Union in 1918, with the establishment of the Kingdom of Iceland, sharing the incumbent monarch of Denmark through a personal union. During the occupation of Denmark in World War II, Iceland voted overwhelmingly to become a republic in 1944, ending the remaining formal ties to Denmark. Although the Althing was suspended from 1799 to 1845, Iceland nevertheless has a claim to sustaining one of the world's longest-running parliaments.
Until the 20th century, Iceland relied largely on subsistence fishing and agriculture. Industrialization of the fisheries and Marshall Plan aid after World War II brought prosperity, and Iceland became one of the world's wealthiest and most developed nations. In 1994, it joined the European Economic Area, further diversifying its economy into sectors such as finance, biotechnology, and manufacturing.
Iceland has a market economy with relatively low taxes compared to other OECD countries, as well as the highest trade union membership in the world. It maintains a Nordic social welfare system that provides universal health care and tertiary education. Iceland ranks highly in international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, education, protection of civil liberties, government transparency, and economic freedom. It has the smallest population of any NATO member and is the only one with no standing army, possessing only a lightly armed coast guard.
Women's rights
Women in Iceland first gained the right to vote in 1915 (with restrictions) and increased voting rights in 1920. Iceland was the first country in the world to have a political party formed and led entirely by women. Known as the Women's List (Kvennalistinn), it was founded in 1983 to advance women's political, economic, and social needs. It left a lasting influence on Iceland's politics: every major party has a 40% quota for women. In the 2021 elections, 48% of parliament members are female compared to the global average of 16% in 2009. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir was the world's first democratically elected female head of state. In 2009, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became the world's first openly LGBT head of government.
LGBT rights
Iceland is liberal about LGBT rights issues. In 1996, the Icelandic parliament passed legislation to create registered partnerships for same-sex couples, conferring nearly all the rights and benefits of marriage. In 2006, parliament voted unanimously to grant same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples in adoption, parenting, and assisted insemination treatment. In 2010, the Icelandic parliament amended the marriage law, making it gender-neutral and defining marriage as between two individuals, making Iceland one of the first countries in the world to legalise same-sex marriage. The law took effect on 27 June 2010.[272] The amendment to the law also means registered partnerships for same-sex couples are now no longer possible, and marriage is their only option—identical to the existing situation for opposite-sex couples.
- Wikipedia article: LGBT rights in Iceland
Spanking and Spanking Art in Iceland
Corporal punishment is prohibited in the home. Article 28 of the Children's Act 2003 states: “It is the parents' obligation to protect their child against any physical or mental violence and other degrading or humiliating behaviour.” This is interpreted as prohibiting all corporal punishment. ( We have no further information from SAOTK as of April, 2022 )
( We have no further information from Corpun.com as of Sept, 2024 )
Prostitution in Iceland
- Prostitution in Iceland ↗ on Wikipedia
A Personal Note from Robin
In 2015, I met a lady from Iceland named Rakel who was living in San Diego at the time.
I have written a short story about our time together.
External links
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Iceland ]
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