EDUCATION

Education: Iceland has a high-quality and inclusive education system that covers four levels: playschool,
compulsory, upper secondary, and higher education.

Education is mandatory for children aged 6 to 16, and most institutions are funded by the state. Iceland
has one of the highest literacy rates in the world, at 99%, and one of the highest tertiary attainment
rates, at 42% among 25-34 year-olds.

Iceland also has a strong focus on lifelong learning, with 28% of adults participating in formal or non-
formal education in 2023.

Article 23 of the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men in Iceland states that gender
equality must be taught in schools throughout all levels of education³⁴. This means that from early
education through university, which is free, all sports, classes, and forms of schooling must include and
practice gender equality³.

Educational attainment has been increasing throughout the OECD, in particular at tertiary level. Iceland
is one of the 24 OECD countries where tertiary education is the most common highest level of
attainment among 25-34 year-olds.

Upper secondary attainment is often seen as a minimum qualification for successful labour market
participation. Although the general increase in educational attainment has seen a parallel decline in the
share of 25-34 year-olds without upper secondary attainment, 14% of young adults across the OECD still
left school without an upper secondary qualification. In Iceland, the share is 20%, which is higher than
the OECD average.

In 2021 the employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with tertiary education in Iceland was 11
percentage points higher than among those with below upper secondary attainment and 4 percentage
points higher than among those with upper secondary or post-secondary non-tertiary attainment.

On average across OECD countries, the employment rate among 25-34 year-olds with a tertiary
qualification was 26 percentage points higher than among those with below upper secondary
attainment and 8 percentage points higher than among those with upper secondary or post-secondary
non-tertiary attainment. While the positive link between educational attainment and employment rates
holds for both men and for women across the OECD, it is particularly strong for women. In Iceland, 68%
of women with below upper secondary attainment were employed in 2021, compared to 81% of those
with tertiary attainment. In contrast, the figures were 75% and 89% for men.
Across the OECD, the labour market benefits of tertiary attainment have proved especially strong during
economic crises. This was also the case during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iceland. Between 2019 and
2020, unemployment for 25-34 year-old workers with below upper secondary attainment increased by
1.3 percentage points, by 3.8 percentage points for workers with upper secondary attainment and by
3.3 percentage points for workers with tertiary attainment. In 2021, unemployment for workers with
below upper secondary attainment increased by 2.9 percentage points, compared to 2020, while it fell
by 1.6 percentage points for workers with upper secondary attainment and by 1.9 percentage points for
workers with tertiary attainment.

HEALTH

• Maternity Care

The Icelandic healthcare system provides maternity care for all expecting mothers who have had legal
residence in Iceland for at least six months. The system of care for childbearing women in Iceland
follows a midwife-led model that is underpinned by the philosophy that both pregnancy and birth are
normal life events and that the care provided should be woman-centred (Sandall et al., 2016). The
maternity care programme is designed for low-risk pregnancies with guidelines for each visit, at which
the midwife monitors the woman's health and provides her with relevant information. Women are
attended by midwives at community healthcare clinics throughout their pregnancies but have further
appointments with general practitioners and obstetricians if needed. If they develop severe
complications, they are referred to a special hospital clinic where they receive antenatal care. Women
who are pregnant with their first child are expected to have ten antenatal visits before they give birth,
while in subsequent pregnancies seven visits are recommended. Antenatal visits last around 30 min, and
all women are entitled to use the services of interpreters or translators. Partners are encouraged to
accompany the mothers to the visits at the community healthcare clinic, but they are also able to bring a
relative or close friend. Most births in Iceland take place at the University Hospital, while the remainder
take place in smaller maternity units around the country; most babies are delivered by midwives, with or
without the assistance of doctors (Olafsdottir et al., 2018). Postnatal visits by a midwife are offered to all
women, except those who have experienced severe complications, and mothers are normally
discharged within 36 hours after giving birth.

Reference:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953621004214
• 2019 Law on the Termination of Pregnancy is one of the most Progressive Abortion Laws in the World

In 2019, Iceland passed a new law on the termination of pregnancy. Passed with a solid majority and the
support of a cross-political coalition, the new law provides pregnant people with the right to decide on a
termination, without having to get prior permission from medical personnel, as had previously been the
case. The law was a huge step forward to ensure the protection of sexual and reproductive rights in
Iceland, but there still remains room for improvement, for example with regard to the rights of trans
people and the access of uninsured people to the service. The success of the legislation was also
remarkable for the cross-political support it enjoyed, largely based on women’s solidarity as 18 of 22
women in parliament, from nearly all parties, supported the law.

Reference:

https://verfassungsblog.de/a-global-milestone/

• Contraceptives

Health care, including family planning services, is free in Iceland; and there is a medical school, a school
of pharmacy, and 2 nursing schools. 35% of Icelandic women 20-40 years of age use either the pill or the
IUD. Over-the-counter contraceptives are also available, and an average of 358 women are sterilized
each year. The abortion rate is only 10.6/1000 females 15-49 years of age. The Birth Control Act of 1975
calls for the provision of sex education and counseling, including contraception, sterilization and
abortion. Nurses can assist in family planning program by observing needs, offering birth planning for
couples, and carrying out research in the factors that affect family planning in Iceland.

Reference:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3417575/

PROGRAMS AND LAWS

1.Act on equal status and equal rights for women and men

In the iceland constitution confirms the equal status of women and men and icelandic law is based on
the principle that all human being are equal regardless of their gender.

2. Equal pay for equal work

In 2018, Iceland introduced the first policy in the world that requires companies and institutions with
more than 25 employees to prove that they pay men and women equally for a job of equal value.

3. Companies boards must include at least 40% women

The amendments require companies in Iceland with over 50 employees on yearly basis to have at least
40 percent of each gender represented on the their corporate boards of directors from September 2013
on.

LBBTQIA+

Icelandic people are usually very sex-positive, and do not tend to stigmatise anyone on their sexual
behaviour.

 HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITY- is legal in iceland

 CENSORSHIP OF LGBT - there are no laws that prohibits promotion of LGBTAI+ rights
 RIGHT TO CHANGE LEGAL GENDER - the right to choose who you identify yourself as without
medical intervention.
LEGAL RECOGNITION OF NON-BINARY GENDER- the right of non binary to register their gender
as "X" in fillouting forms.

SERVING OPENLY IN MILITARY- military in Iceland is not mandatory but voluntary

CONVERSION THERAPY - is considered illegal this kind of therapy forces to change someone's sogie.
EQUAL AGE OF CONSENT - the equal age of consent in Iceland is 15 years old thus if you may have
performed intercourse to 15years old below you may be sentenced for impressonment for 1year.

Specific LGBTQIA+ rights

 Act on Registered Partnerships (1996)

Granted same sex couples some rights. and benefits similar to marriage, including inheritance, next of
kin rights and jou tenancy.

 Act on Gender Identity (2012)

Established a self-declaratory process .For legal gender recognition, removing. the requirement for
surgery or medical diagnosis.

 Act on Amending the Marriage Act (2010)

Legalized same-sex marriage, granting all the same rights and benefits as Opposite sex couples.

 Act on Prohibitions of Discrimination (2018)

Expanded existing anti- discrimination protections to include gender identity

CHAD

Chad, landlocked country in north-central Africa. The terrain is that of a shallow basin that rises
gradually from the Lake Chad area.

GENDER ROLES

Women are perceived as being homemakers, caretakers, wives, and mothers, and among many people
groups in Chad, polygamous marriages are commonplace.

Women constitute half of chads population but Women mostly work in the informal sector .
Only half of women participate in the labor force 27% in contrast with 73% of men.

Employment:

Agriculture (farming, gardening, livestock rearing) 50-60%

Informal trade (street vendors or market traders 30-40%

-Formal Employment (manufacturing, services.) and public sector

- Management (managerial roles underrepresented 10-15%)

Women Faces in Politics

Lydie Beassemda: Beassemda was the first woman to run for president of Chad in 2021. She is a lawyer
and human rights activist.

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, a Chadian environmental activist and indigenous rights advocate. She is a
member of the Wodaabe people.

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

In 2022 16.2% women aged to 15-49 years reported that they have been subject to physical and sexual
violence.
-Child Marriage ( 20% are married under 15 )
-Female genital mutilations FGM/C prevalence varies widely across Chad. The regions with the highest
prevalence are in the south-east: Salamat (96.1% of women aged 15–49), Sila (93.2%) and Guéra (90%).
The regions with the lowest prevalence are in the north-west: Lac (0.7%), Kanem (0.7%) and
Bourkou/Tibesti (1.8%).
Rape

Janjaweed would pass their hands touching the heads and legs of women, if a woman has long hair and
fat legs and silky skin she is immediately taken away to be raped.

EDUCATION

Chad has a low-quality and exclusive education system that is divided into three levels: primary,
secondary, and higher education. Education is not compulsory or free, and many children do not attend
school due to poverty, conflict, displacement, and cultural norms. Chad has one of the lowest literacy
rates in the world, at 22%, and one of the lowest tertiary attainment rates, at 2% among 25-34 year-
olds. Chad also has a low level of participation in adult education, with only 1% of adults enrolled in
formal or non-formal education in 2023.

Based on the web search results, education in terms to women in Chad is a challenge that needs more
attention and support. Some of the main issues that affect girls' education in Chad are:

- Child marriage: Many girls are forced to marry at a young age and drop out of school to fulfill their
domestic roles. According to one source, Chad has the third-highest rate of child marriage in the world,
with 68% of girls married before the age of 18.

- Poverty: Many families cannot afford to send their children to school, especially girls, who are often
seen as less valuable or productive. Some parents also prefer to send boys to school, to the detriment of
girls.

- Conflict and displacement: Chad has been affected by three humanitarian crises in Sudan, the Central
African Republic and Nigeria, which have created additional pressure on the education system and
increased the vulnerability of girls. More than 600,000 refugee children are in need of schooling in Chad.

- Gender stereotypes and discrimination: Girls face social and cultural barriers that limit their access to
education and empowerment. For example, some fields of study, such as science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM), are considered as male-dominated and less suitable for girls.

- Lack of quality and resources: The education system in Chad suffers from low levels of schooling, low
academic performance, low teacher qualifications, and insufficient infrastructure and materials. Only
20% of children who finish their primary school studies have a good foundation in reading and math in
the two languages of instruction, French and Arabic.

These factors contribute to the low educational level of women in Chad, which affects their social and
economic opportunities and well-being. The average number of years of education for females is 3.16
years, compared to 4.69 years for males. The literacy rate among youth aged 15 to 24 is around 70%,
with a significant gap between girls (23%) and boys (47%).

ECONOMY AND WORK

Women constitute half of Chad's working population but are mostly employed in the informal sector,
are less productive and earn less than men, which contributes significantly to low productivity in most
sectors. Only half of women participate in the labor force in contrast with 73% of men.

Women Role-

In Chad, women play a significant role in the family, community, and economy.

Family: As in many cultures, women are primarily responsible for childcare, household chores, and
caring for the elderly.

Community: Women participate actively in community life, engaging in various activities like food
production, trade, and social support networks.

Economy: While facing challenges like limited access to land and resources, women contribute
significantly to the economy through agriculture, small businesses, and informal trade.

Leadership: Despite underrepresentation, women are increasingly assuming leadership roles in politics,
business, and civil society.

Culture-

Chadian culture is diverse and influenced by Islamic and traditional beliefs. Gender roles are often
defined by these beliefs, with women expected to be submissive and prioritize domestic responsibilities.
However, there are variations based on ethnicity and region.
Women Job-

The majority of women in Chad are employed in agriculture (70%), with a smaller percentage in informal
trade, small businesses, and domestic work. Despite their contributions, women face significant
challenges like:

Poverty-Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world, with poverty disproportionately affecting
women. Factors contributing to this include:

Limited access to productive resources and credit.

Unequal land ownership.

Lack of education and vocational training.

Gender-based violence and discrimination.

HEALTH

• Contraceptives

Globally, there has been an increase in the percentage of women in their reproductive ages who need
modern contraceptives for family planning. However, in Chad, use of modern contraceptive is still low
(with prevalence of 7.7%) and this may be attributable to the annual increase in growth rate by 3.5%.
Social, cultural, and religious norms have been identified to influence the decision-making abilities of
women in sub-Saharan Africa concerning the use of modern contraceptives. The main aim of the study is
to assess the association between the health decision-making capacities of women in Chad and the use
of modern contraceptives.

Reference:

https://contraceptionmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40834-022-00188-7
•HIV/AIDS

Chad is one of the countries in Africa that is the most affected by the AIDS epidemic with an overall
prevalence of 1.6 per cent according to DHS/MICS from 2014-2015.

The integration of screening in pediatric services is lacking. The proximity of maternity hospitals and
pediatric services in district, provincial and natioinal hospitals should foster the care of the at-risk
children, but such is not the case. The monitoring of these children is clearly not oriented
systematically by pediatric services. The lack of arrangements for proper screening demotivates
mothers who wait too long to know the serological status of their child. The monitoring of these
children is clearly worse than that of their mothers.

The availability of ARV is often irregular. Despite the availability of ARV and inputs, one finds poor
coverage for the antiviral treatment of children, the supply of reagents for pediatric PCR is far from
sufficient.

The prevalence among young women rises with age. It is at 1.2 per cent among 15-19 olds, at 1.8 per
cent among 18-19 olds and 2.4 per cent among 23-24 olds. It is lower among boys (0.7 per cent)

The elimination of HIV transmission from mother to child (EMCT)

The primary prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases

The prevention of unwanted pregnancies for HIV+ women

The PMTCT itself in care and community

The care of the woman and child in the family : the support, the proper care and treatment of HIV+
mothers, their children and their families.

PROGRAMS AND LAWS

• The Constitution of Chad (2018) guarantees equality before the law for all citizens, regardless of sex. It
also prohibits discrimination against women in all areas of life, including education, employment, and
healthcare.
• The Penal Code (2016) criminalizes a number of acts of violence against women, including domestic
violence, rape, and sexual assault. It also prohibits female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage.

• The Reproductive Health Law (2006) guarantees women's access to reproductive healthcare, including
contraception and safe abortion.

LBBTQIA+ (Treatment)

The LGBTQIA+ community in Chad faces significant discrimination and legal challenges. Same-sex sexual
activity is illegal, punishable by imprisonment of up to 15 years. This harsh law criminalizes consensual
relationships and creates an environment of fear and silence for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

 Criminalises LGBT people

Criminalises sexual activity between males

Criminalises sexual activity between females

HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITY IN CHAD

same-SEX MARRIAGE IN CHAD ( not legal)