GRÓ GEST Fellows Visit the President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir, at Bessastaðir
Yesterday, the 2025 GRÓ GEST cohort was warmly welcomed at Bessastaðir, the official residence of the President of Iceland, by the President, Halla Tómasdóttir. This visit marks a significant moment in the fellowship's calendar year, underscoring Iceland's continued commitment to international dialogue on gender equality and social justice.
President Halla Tómasdóttir, in her first reception of the GEST cohort since assuming office in August 2024, emphasized the importance of sustained international collaboration in advancing gender equality, especially at a time of global backlash against feminist progress. She talked about the importance of feeling valued, recollecting the women’s first national strike in Iceland 50 years ago, when women took the day off to demonstrate their value to society, and how that was a catalyst in the history of gender equality in Iceland. She furthermore emphasized the importance of engaging men and boys in the fight for gender equality and that every person of all genders should feel valued.
President Halla Tómasdóttir opted not only to address the fellows but to engage in a substantive and wide-ranging conversation, devoting considerable time to listening and responding to questions and reflections.
Speaking on behalf of the cohort, Ms. Antovna Gyawali from Nepal delivered a striking message about the global resurgence of anti-gender policies and rhetoric. “We are not asking for too much,” she remarked. “We are only asking for what should already be ours—the right to live with dignity, with safety, and with choice.”
Highlighting reversals in gender equality worldwide—from revoked reproductive rights in the United States to rising hostility toward feminist and LGBTQIA+ activists in many regions—Ms. Gyawali underscored that these setbacks reflect fear of progress and a deeper shift in power dynamics. However, she noted that no backlash has ever stopped progress, but if anything, it shows that change is underway.
Ms. Prudence Chavula from Malawi offered an overview of the fellows’ diverse final projects that all respond directly to the backlash by offering practical and radical solutions, and are deeply informed by the knowledge and solidarity acquired during their studies at the GEST programme. Ms. Chavula underscored the significance of these projects as both scholarly contributions and instruments of structural transformation within the fellows’ respective communities: “Each of us—26 fellows—has developed a project or piece of research that directly responds to the challenges in our home countries,” she explained. “From climate justice and inclusive policymaking to amplifying trans voices and keeping girls in school, we are fighting back with practical and radical solutions.”
The President engaged in a robust dialogue with the fellows, fielding questions on topics ranging from Iceland's international development cooperation to the responsibilities of feminist leadership in times of crisis, where Iceland’s reputation for progressive gender policies can have a strong voice, especially to empower young people of all genders. The conversation, characterized by mutual respect and intellectual curiosity, reflected the spirit of transnational learning that defines the GRÓ GEST programme.
The fellows and the President shared light refreshments, while engaging in important and enlightening discussions. The occasion served as a powerful reminder of the potential for meaningful connection across cultural, geographical, and political divides in the shared pursuit of gender justice.
The GRÓ GEST Programme, hosted by the University of Iceland and funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, continues to cultivate a global network of gender equality professionals. The annual presidential visit is both a symbolic and practical affirmation of Iceland’s investment in transformative leadership and global feminist solidarity.
