Human Rights Council

The City Council approved the charter for the Human Rights Council on March 18, 2025.

The Human Rights Council operates under the authority of the City Executive Council as detailed in the approval for the Human Rights Council and in accordance with Reykjavík City governance and City Council procedures No. 1020/2019, and as prescribed by law.

The Human Rights Council is responsible for the following tasks, among others:

1. Advising the City Council, committees and councils of Reykjavík City on human rights issues, including equality and equal pay matters, gender-responsive budgeting and planning, promoting the human rights policy and related strategies, and facilitating knowledge development and information sharing. The council recommends revisions to the Reykjavík City Human Rights Policy to the City Executive Council when necessary and ensures its implementation.
2. Advising the City Council, committees and councils of Reykjavík City on violence prevention and actively participating in all policy development in this area.
3. Advising the City Council, committees and councils of Reykjavík City on issues and interests of residents aged 67 and older. The Council shall promote any form of disclosure and collaboration between the City of Reykjavík and the organized interest group, develop policies, and make recommendations to City Council within its jurisdiction
4. The council serves as a consultation forum for citizens aged 67 and older, their organizations, the broader business community, and city officials, and actively participates in all policy development in this area. The council advises on Reykjavík City's operations in this field and works with city centers to enhance social capital and promote awareness of municipal services among residents aged 67 and older.
5. Advising the City Council, committees and councils of Reykjavík City on issues affecting immigrants and people with foreign backgrounds. The council promotes information sharing and cooperation between Reykjavík City and immigrant grassroots organizations, develops policies, and makes recommendations to the City Executive Council regarding immigrant affairs. The council works to connect multicultural communities in Iceland, encourages dialogue between natives and immigrants, and advocates for immigrant interests.
6. Is the City’s representative in the field of human rights. Is available to other City authorities for consultation and advice on human rights projects. Provides reviews of suggestions for City programs related to the human rights of the City's residents. Cooperates with the Government, other municipalities, and NGOs on human rights issues and awards the City of Reykjavík's annual Human Rights Prize.
7. Following municipal elections, the Human Rights Council must ensure that Reykjavík City develops a human rights plan for the new term. This plan must align with Act No. 150/2020 on Equal Status and Equal Rights of the Genders, Act No. 85/2018 on Equal Treatment Irrespective of Race and Ethnic Origin in all areas of society except the labor market, and Act No. 86/2018 on Equal Treatment in the Labor Market irrespective of race, ethnic origin, religion, philosophical view, disability, occupational disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, or gender expression. The plan must be submitted for approval to the City Council no later than one year after municipal elections and revised as needed.

To improve services for disabled people in Reykjavík and enhance their access to all city services and public spaces, the Human Rights Council is responsible for the following tasks:

1. Ensuring that all city-owned buildings and other facilities where the public receives municipal services, as well as streets, sidewalks, and other public spaces in the city, are accessible to disabled people with diverse accessibility needs. The Human Rights Council presents the annual Reykjavík City Accessibility Award.

2. Influencing the planning and delivery of all services for disabled people in Reykjavík with the goal of improving their access to services, information, housing, city land, and community participation in the broadest sense. The council advises service providers across all departments of Reykjavík City, participates in policy development for services to disabled people, and serves as a consultation forum for disability services in the city. The council's involvement and oversight should occur at all stages of departmental work on disability-related matters—at the beginning, during implementation, and upon completion.

The Council is chaired by Sabine Leskopf.

The Human Rights Council typically holds three meetings per month.

When the council discusses issues related to violence prevention, the following entities also have seats on the council as observers: The chief of police in the capital area, Stígamót, The Women's Shelter Association, and the Director of Health

When the council addresses issues concerning disabled people, the following representatives also have seats on the council: ÖBÍ Rights Association, Þroskahjálp, and the NPA Center

When the council discusses matters relating to the elderly and serves as the Elderly Affairs Council, the following representatives also have seats on the council: The Association of Senior Citizens in Reykjavík and Surroundings, The Elderly Association, U3A Reykjavík, and the Capital Area Health Center

When the council addresses issues concerning immigrants and people with foreign backgrounds, the following representatives also serve on the council as observers: The Association of Women of Foreign Origin, W.O.M.E.N., and Móðurmál, an association for bilingualism.

The Human Rights and Democracy Office is responsible for the implementation of human rights policies, the Council's tasks and relations with other institutions.

Council staff includes Elísabet Pétursdóttir, project manager, and Valgerður Jónsdóttir, gender equality specialist and member of the consultative group on disability issues.