{"id":8226,"date":"2012-08-17T09:05:57","date_gmt":"2012-08-17T16:05:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/humanium.org\/en\/?page_id=8226"},"modified":"2026-08-30T15:19:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T15:19:21","slug":"iceland","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/iceland\/","title":{"rendered":"Children of Iceland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Realizing Children&#8217;s Rights in Iceland<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2580143527_edited-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91959\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:200px;height:200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2580143527_edited-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2580143527_edited-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2580143527_edited-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2580143527_edited-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2580143527_edited-1024x1024.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2580143527_edited-1536x1536.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2580143527_edited-230x230.jpeg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2580143527_edited-830x830.jpeg 830w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2580143527_edited-2048x2048.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2580143527_edited-350x350.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2580143527_edited-480x480.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-rounded\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"2146\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1529354705_edited-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91960\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:200px;height:200px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1529354705_edited-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1529354705_edited-300x252.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1529354705_edited-767x643.jpeg 767w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1529354705_edited-1024x858.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1529354705_edited-1536x1288.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1529354705_edited-2048x1717.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1529354705_edited-829x695.jpeg 829w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1529354705_edited-229x192.jpeg 229w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1529354705_edited-479x402.jpeg 479w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1529354705_edited-349x293.jpeg 349w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><strong>Iceland\u2019s small population and high-income economy allow children broad access to basic services that support an adequate standard of living. Strong education, health and social protection systems further reinforce this environment. The country has ratified all major international legal frameworks for the protection of children\u2019s rights but progress is still required in certain areas to fully uphold these rights.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3482273.937056369!2d-24.519127561285778!3d64.77544426637319!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x48d22b52a3eb6043%3A0x6f8a0434e5c1459a!2sIceland!5e0!3m2!1sen!2shr!4v1788101788835!5m2!1sen!2shr\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Population<\/strong>:\u00a0389,444 thousand<br><strong>Population aged 0\u201314:<\/strong> 17.76%<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Life expectancy: <\/strong>82.7 years<br><strong>Under-5 mortality rate: <\/strong>1.9\u2030<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Iceland at a glance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Republic of Iceland (L\u00fddhveldidh \u00cdsland) is a small island located in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Greenland and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/norway\/\">Norway<\/a>. As it is an island, it does not share any land borders with any other country. Instead, it is surrounded by key bodies of water that define its geographical position. To the north lies the Greenland Sea, while the Norwegian Sea borders it to the east and northeast. The Denmark Strait separates Iceland from Greenland to the northwest, and the Irminger Sea lies to the southwest (Karlsson et al, 2025).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2541716647-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91963\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.499330655957162;width:393px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2541716647-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2541716647-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2541716647-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2541716647-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2541716647-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2541716647-829x553.jpg 829w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2541716647-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2541716647-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2541716647-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_2541716647-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iceland lies to the north of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/ireland\/\">Ireland<\/a>, east of Greenland, west of Norway and northwest of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/united-kingdom\/\">United Kingdom<\/a>. Although considered a Nordic country, and despite its geographical remoteness, Iceland is considered a part of Europe. Reykjav\u00edk, the island\u2019s capital and largest city is located on the Seltjarnar Peninsula in the southwest of the country. Other populated centres in Iceland include Akureyri, on the north central coast; Hafnarfj\u00f6rdhur, on the southwestern coast; and Selfoss, in the southern lowlands (Karlsson et al, 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iceland is known for its dramatic landscape of volcanoes, glaciers, geothermal fields and rugged coastlines, all shaped by its position on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland\u2019s coastline is approximately 3,000 miles (4,800 km) long. Approximately one-tenth of the island is covered in glacier ice and cooled lava. There are approximately 200 volcanoes in Iceland, with frequent volcanic activity happening since 1970 (Karlsson et al, 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Status of children\u2019s rights<\/strong><a href=\"#_ftn1\" id=\"_ftnref1\"> [1]<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iceland has committed to several international instruments for the protection of children\u2019s rights. In 1992, the government ratified the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/convention\/\">Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)<\/a>. Iceland is also party to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/convention-on-the-elimination-of-all-forms-of-discrimination-against-women\/\">Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women<\/a>&nbsp;(CEDAW), ratified in 1985; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/international-convention-on-the-elimination-of-all-forms-of-racial-discrimination\/\">International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination<\/a>, ratified in 1967; and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), ratified in 1979.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The government ratified the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/protocol-child-soldier\/\">Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/protocol-child-sale\/\">on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography<\/a>&nbsp;in 2001. The government also ratified the International Labour Organization (ILO) &nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/child-labour-convention\/\">Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention<\/a> (No. 182) in 2000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Addressing the needs of children<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Right to education<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_718152994-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91961\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.499330655957162;width:400px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_718152994-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_718152994-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_718152994-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_718152994-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_718152994-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_718152994-829x553.jpg 829w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_718152994-229x153.jpg 229w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_718152994-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_718152994-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_718152994-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Iceland, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">right to education<\/a> is constitutionally guaranteed under Article 76 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">education<\/a> is regulated by the Ministry of Education and Children (Mennta- og Barnam\u00e1lar\u00e1\u00f0uneyti\u00f0). Their primary role is to oversee national education, policy, curriculum standards and teacher training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although the Ministry of Education are the main governing body, each municipality is responsible for ensuring that education remains free and accessible to all children between the ages of 6 \u2013 16 years old. Iceland is among the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries with the highest expenditure on education in Europe and has one of the world\u2019s highest literacy rates (European Commission, 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The structure of formal education in Iceland consists of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Preschool (<em>leiksk\u00f3li<\/em>) \u2013 this is the first level of schooling for children between the ages of 1 to 6 years old. Although it is not compulsory, approximately 95% of children between the ages of 3 to 5 years old attend this level of schooling. A majority of the curriculum for preschool is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/article-31-the-necessity-of-play-in-childrens-lives\/\">play-based learning<\/a> that supports holistic development, creativity and equality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compulsory school (grunnsk\u00f3li) \u2013 this includes primary and lower secondary school, and is mandatory and free for all children from the age of 6 to 16 years old.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Upper secondary school (framhaldssk\u00f3li) \u2013 for children between the ages of 16 to 20 years old. Upper secondary school leads to the matriculation exam (st\u00fadentspr\u00f3f) or vocational qualifications (European Commission, 2025).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Right to health<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Iceland, the Ministry of Health (Heilbrig\u00f0isr\u00e1\u00f0uneyti\u00f0) is the main authority for children\u2019s healthcare. Children in Iceland benefit from publicly funded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/fundamental-rights-2\/health\/\">healthcare<\/a> and organised school-health services. This includes free health check-ups from birth until the age of 18 years old, access to general medical services, specialist care, vaccinations, psychological services and dental treatments (European Commission, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As of 2023, health insurance covers 69% of general dental care expenses, whereby children under the age of 18 can access full dental checkups for 2,500 Icelandic Krona ISK (\u20ac16.53 EUR). Children can access a dentist through registration with a family dentist (European Commission, 2023).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Right to clean water and sanitation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iceland has an abundance of fresh drinking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/water\/\">water<\/a> and is one of the richest in terms of water resources, where everyone has access to safe and affordable drinking water. Across the country, water quality is regularly monitored, and strict rules apply to water reservoirs. However, according to the United Nations, all sewage disposals across many parts of the country need to be improved (Government of Iceland Prime Minister\u2019s Office, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iceland prioritises clean water and sanitation in its international development efforts by supporting projects to expand access to safe drinking water and improve sanitation systems in its partner countries of Malawi, Uganda and Sierra Leone. Additionally, Iceland invests in initiatives that assist adolescent girls in managing menstrual health, focusing on access to menstrual products and educational support (Government of Iceland Prime Minister\u2019s Office, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Right to identity<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When a child is born in Iceland, in accordance with Article 7 of the Children\u2019s Act, they are issued a national identification number (<em>kennitala)<\/em>, and the birth is recorded at the hospital by the midwife. All children must be registered and named within 6 months of birth. Legal parentage is also recorded in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/identity\/\">birth registration<\/a> process and unmarried mothers must establish paternity within the same period (Island, n,d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iceland\u2019s naming customs reflect deep cultural roots tied to its Viking past. During the Viking age, people were identified by their personal name and lineage, and this naming convention remains even today (International Center for Language Studies, 2024).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the Personal Names Act No. 37\/1991, names must be registered with Registers Iceland (\u00dej\u00f3\u00f0skr\u00e1). All names must be approved by the Personal Names Committee (<em>Mannanafnanefnd<\/em>), and for names that aren\u2019t on the traditional naming register, parents must seek approval before assigning their child a name to ensure that the name is compliant with Icelandic grammatical and orthographic rules (International Center for Language Studies, 2024). &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Mannanafnanefnd<\/em>, established in 1991, oversee and approves the given names of newborn children. Often, names that do not conform to the cultural traditions and grammar of Iceland are rejected as the <em>Mannanafnanefnd<\/em> aim to ensure that the cultural and linguistic heritage is maintained within society (International Center for Language Studies, 2024).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The last names use a patronymic or a matronymic name, meaning children\u2019s last names are derived from the first name of one of their parents, generally from their father, but sometimes from their mother. Typically, the suffix -son would be used for boys, meaning \u201cson of,\u201d and the suffix -d\u00f3ttir would be used for girls, meaning \u201cdaughter of\u201d (International Center for Language Studies, 2024). However, since the introduction of the Act on Gender Autonomy No. 80\/2019, a gender-neutral suffix of -bur, meaning \u201cchild of,\u201d has been integrated to reflect the diversity in gender identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are no fixed family surnames in Iceland; names are not traditionally passed down from generation to generation. This allows each new generation to create their own unique combination of names from their father\u2019s or mother\u2019s side to reflect the parent-child relationship rather than the broader family identity (International Center for Language Studies, 2024). &nbsp;The naming customs remain tightly regulated and are designed to secure a child\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/identity\/\">right to identity<\/a> by ensuring that the names are registered, culturally integrated and legally recognized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under the current law, for children born to one Icelandic parent and one foreign parent, they can take one foreign name and one Icelandic name. However, foreign children from immigrant communities are entitled to keep their native names, from their own country (Trodler, 2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/protection\/\"><strong>Right to protection<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In November 1998, Bragi Gu\u00f0brandsson, founded the <em>Barnah\u00fas<\/em> (children\u2019s house). The Barnah\u00fas plays a central role in Iceland\u2019s child protection system, providing a coordinated, child-centred response to allegations where a child has been sexually or physically <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/abuse\/\">abused<\/a> or has witnessed violence. The main aim of the Barnah\u00fas is to minimise trauma and ensure that effective investigations are carried out, bringing together key agencies such as police, prosecutors, child-protection workers, healthcare professionals and counselling services (Fahsing, 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the inception of the Barnah\u00fas, the model has been implemented across 28 European countries, with each country adapting the model to fit their own cultural and legal frameworks, while maintaining at its core the importance of child-centred protection (Fahsing, 2025).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Risk factors \u2013> Country-specific challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/poverty\/\"><strong>Poverty<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iceland has a well-developed welfare system and low levels of extreme poverty. However, income disparities still affect some families, particularly single-parent households and those facing long-term unemployment. These inequalities can influence children\u2019s access to extracurricular activities and mental health services, creating pockets of vulnerability within an otherwise stable environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to data collected for the 2023 Voluntary National Review (VNR), the proportion of people in Iceland experiencing poverty had fallen from 2.5% in 2016 to 0.8% in 2021. Indicators related to material living standards show a similar improvement, with the percentage of people living with material deprivation declining from 6.1% in 2016 to 3.7% in 2021, and households that are at risk of poverty declining from 10.3% in 2017 to 8.9% in 2021 (Government of Iceland Prime Minister\u2019s Office, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the 2019 VNR, data collected highlighted that 11% of children and nearly one-quarter (24.9%) of single parents were disproportionately affected and at risk of poverty. While these figures remain low by international standards \u2013 and Iceland continues to rank among European countries with the highest income equality and the lowest poverty levels, they reflect the ongoing reality that some households face financial strain (Government of Iceland Prime Minister\u2019s Office, 2019).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite this, the welfare system has made significant efforts to reduce economic barriers in relation to education, with approximately 99% of children having access to free educational materials and access to free schooling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/children-in-rural-areas\/\"><strong>Children in rural or remote areas<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1138008230-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-91962\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.499330655957162;width:426px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1138008230-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1138008230-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1138008230-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1138008230-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1138008230-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1138008230-829x553.jpg 829w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1138008230-230x153.jpg 230w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1138008230-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1138008230-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/shutterstock_1138008230-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Iceland\u2019s population is concentrated in urban areas, a proportion of children live in sparsely populated or geographically remote communities. For these children, the main challenges relate to connectivity and access, particularly in relation to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/educational-technology-edtech-and-childrens-right-to-privacy\/\">digital education<\/a>. During the COVID-19 pandemic, uneven internet quality in rural regions became a notable issue, as some households struggled to maintain stable online access for remote schooling. Although national efforts to expand broadband coverage have continued in recent years, digital connectivity remains less consistent in remote areas, which can affect participation in online learning or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/the-digital-divide-and-its-adverse-consequences-for-millions-of-children\/\">digital educational<\/a> resources (Government of Iceland Prime Minister\u2019s Office, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Physical access to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">schooling<\/a> is generally well supported by public policy. The government ensures that children living far from schools can travel safely to and from educational facilities, with public transport even in sparsely populated regions. These measures help to mitigate geographic isolation. However, limited transport schedules and long travel times still pose occasional barriers for children living in rural or remote areas (European Commission, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/disabled-children\/\"><strong>Children with disabilities<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Information on challenges specifically affecting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/disabled-children\/\">children with disabilities<\/a> in Iceland is relatively limited, largely because the country has established strong legal protections and inclusive policies. Icelandic legislation explicitly prohibits discrimination on the grounds of disability. These protections are reflected in the education system, where children with disabilities are entitled to attend their local schools and receive appropriate support based on their individual needs (Government of Iceland Prime Minister\u2019s Office, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to inclusive mainstream <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/right-to-education\/\">schooling<\/a>, Iceland provides specialized schools (known as&nbsp;<em>Klettask\u00f3li<\/em> and <em>Arnarsk\u00f3li<\/em>), which are designed to support children with complex learning or developmental needs. The existence of both integrated and specialized models allows families to access tailored support (island, n,d).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, Iceland has taken steps to strengthen the dignity and visibility of children with disabilities by removing discriminatory or outdated terminology from all legislation. While these positive measures ensure a high standard of protection, the limited availability of detailed data makes it difficult to fully assess whether children with disabilities face any subtle or emerging challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/juvenile-justice\/\"><strong>Juvenile justice<\/strong><\/a><strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The use of solitary confinement for minors in Iceland has been a major human rights concern raised by international and national organisations in recent years. Although Iceland maintains strong standards for children\u2019s rights and has ratified or acceded to several key international and regional treaties that set standards to prevent and protect children from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/children-in-justice-system\/\">solitary confinement<\/a>, it has continued to allow the use of solitary confinement for minors between the ages of 15 to 17 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This takes place in pre-trial detention settings. The domestic laws in Iceland still permit the use of isolation in pre-trial detention settings for minors aged 15 to 17 years old (Amnesty International, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Findings from the 2023 Amnesty International report indicate that minors in Iceland had been held in isolation for up to 23 hours a day, often without sufficient justification or oversight. Despite the practice of solitary confinement directly contradicting Article 37(a) of the UNCRC, as well as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/international-rules-justice-children-2\/\">United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners<\/a> (Nelson Mandela Rules, 2015) and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/international-rules-justice-children-2\/\">United Nations Rules for the Protection of Juveniles Deprived of Liberty<\/a> (Havana Rules, 1990) \u2013 both of which explicitly ban solitary confinement for individuals under 18, the report highlighted that between 2012 and 2021, a total of 825 people were placed in pre-trial solitary confinement; of these, 10 were children between the ages of 15 and 17 years old and no adequate safeguards were established to ensure that children were protected (Amnesty International, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The relevant national pieces of legislation are the Act on the Execution of Sentences No. 15\/2016 and the Code of Criminal Procedure No. 88\/2008. Under these laws, isolation (<em>einangrun)<\/em> is permitted during pre-trial detention if a judge deems it necessary. This does not explicitly prohibit its application for children under the age of 18, even though the age of criminal responsibility is 15 years old. In practice, this means that minors in Iceland can be held in solitary confinement (Amnesty International, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2024, the Ombudsman for Children in Iceland (Umbo\u00f0sma\u00f0ur barna) urged the government to make amendments to the law to explicitly prohibit the use of solitary confinement for children under the age of 18 and to establish juvenile-specific detention facilities (Amnesty International, 2023).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Written by Vanessa Cezarita Cordeiro<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Internally proofread by Aditi Partha<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Last updated on 9 November 2025<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>References:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Amnesty International. (2019, February 19). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/documents\/eur28\/9498\/2019\/en\/\">\u201cIceland: No shame in diversity.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from Amnesty International, accessed on 10 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Amnesty International. (2023, January 31). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/latest\/news\/2023\/01\/iceland-abusive-use-of-solitary-confinement-must-end-immediately\/\">\u201cIceland\u2019s abusive use of solitary confinement must end immediately.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from Amnesty International, accessed on 5 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Amnesty International. (2023). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org\/en\/documents\/eur28\/6373\/2023\/en\/\">\u201cWaking up to nothing \u2013 Harmful and unjustified use of pre-trial solitary confinement in Iceland.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from Amnesty International, accessed on 5 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Barnahus Network. (n,d). <a href=\"https:\/\/barnahus.eu\/barnahus\/about-barnahus\/\">\u201cAbout Barnahus.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from Barnahus, accessed on 14 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Committee on the Rights of the Child. (2020, March 4). <a href=\"https:\/\/docstore.ohchr.org\/SelfServices\/FilesHandler.ashx?enc=Uyik9HndHaYOXNK8joqUpluOCEH1HRCWe9k8ESunzkl0wnBxJHqpbNI0COz0rP89LE837WXxba5B65HfOdKOBg%3D%3D\">\u201cCombined fifth and sixth periodic reports submitted by Iceland under Article 44 of the Convention.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, accessed on 15 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">European Commission. (2023, September). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/content\/dam\/oecd\/en\/publications\/reports\/2023\/12\/iceland-country-health-profile-2023_e26a337c\/f2868adb-en.pdf\">\u201cState of health in the EU \u2013 Iceland country health profile 2023.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from European Commission, accessed on 5 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">European Commission. (2023, November 27). <a href=\"https:\/\/eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu\/eurypedia\/iceland\/organisation-single-structure-education#:~:text=Children%20living%20in%20rural%20areas,Iceland%2C%20are%20co%2Deducational.\">\u201cOrganization of single-structure education.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from European Commission, accessed on 24 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">European Commission. (2025, January 9). <a href=\"https:\/\/eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu\/eurypedia\/iceland\/overview#:~:text=is\/eurydice%2Dupplysinganet-,Key%20Features%20of%20the%20Education%20System,the%20publication%20of%20educational%20material.\">\u201cKey features of the education system.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from European Commission, accessed on 3 November 2025.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Fahsing, Dr I., Gu\u00f0brandsson, B. (2025, February 15). <a href=\"https:\/\/davidhorn.com\/resource-hub\/the-birth-of-barnahus-how-iceland-revolutionised-child-protection\/\">\u201cThe birth of Barnahus: How Iceland revolutionized child protection.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, accessed on 15 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Government of Iceland Prime Minister\u2019s Office. (2023). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.heimsmarkmidin.is\/library\/Pdf-skjol\/Iceland's%20VNR%202023%20-%20final%20version%209.6.23.pdf\">\u201cVoluntary National Review Iceland 2023.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from Government of Iceland Prime Minister\u2019s Office, accessed on 10 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Government of Iceland Prime Minister\u2019s Office. (2019). <a href=\"https:\/\/sustainabledevelopment.un.org\/content\/documents\/23408VNR_Iceland_2019_web_final.pdf\">\u201cVoluntary National Review Iceland 2019.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from Government of Iceland Prime Minister\u2019s Office, accessed on 24 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">International Center for Language Studies. (2024, November 13). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.icls.edu\/blog\/icelandic-naming-system\">\u201cIcelandic naming system: A unique tradition in modern times.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from International Center for Language Studies, accessed on 10 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">\u00cdsland. (n,d). <a href=\"https:\/\/island.is\/en\/name-giving\/icelandic-naming-convention-surnames\">\u201cIcelandic naming convention \u2013 surnames.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from Island.is, accessed on 10 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">\u00cdsland. (n,d). <a href=\"https:\/\/island.is\/en\/life-events\/rights-obligations\">\u201cRights and obligations.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from Island.is, accessed on 10 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">\u00cdsland. (n,d). <a href=\"https:\/\/island.is\/en\/life-events\/children-with-disability\">\u201cChildren with disabilities.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from \u00cdsland, accessed on 24 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Karlsson, G., Kristinsson, V., Matth\u00edason, B. (2025, November 3). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/place\/Iceland\">\u201cIceland.\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica, accessed on 3 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Trodler, D. (2021, January 19). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.icelandreview.com\/ask-ir\/how-are-immigrants-children-named\/?srsltid=AfmBOoqqTYGffqgbh9NVRibCtNfhOiaFSpJNDEp0DECaJjl0_oEADjlI\">\u201cHow are immigrants\u2019 children named?\u201d<\/a> Retrieved from Iceland Review, accessed on 25 November 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"#_ftnref1\" id=\"_ftn1\">[1]<\/a> This article by no means purports to give a full or representative account of children\u2019s rights in Iceland; indeed one of many challenges is the scant updated information on children in Iceland, much of which is unreliable, not representative, outdated or simply non-existent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Realizing Children&#8217;s Rights in Iceland Iceland\u2019s small population and high-income economy allow children broad access to basic services that support an adequate standard of living. Strong education, health and social protection systems further reinforce this environment. The country has ratified all major international legal frameworks for the protection of children\u2019s rights but progress is still [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8226","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Children of Iceland - Humanium<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In spite of largely favoring the protection of children&#039;s right, the country still has progress to make concerning child justice, sexual exploitation etc.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/iceland\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Children of Iceland - 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