Stúdentablaðið/Hólmfríður María Bjarnardóttir

Translation: Katrín le Roux Viðarsdóttir and Julie Summers

An interview with Minister of Justice Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir

How can young people make themselves heard on issues important to them?

“Young people need to be unafraid of having opinions and making them known, be prepared to get some criticism and then discuss things from there. There are many ways to bring issues into the spotlight. New mediums make it easy for us to voice our opinions and bring issues forward, and we’re really good about using them. I try to talk to a really diverse variety of people and therefore use a lot of different mediums, like social media, websites, newspapers, and more. It definitely depends on who you’re talking to in each situation. But first and foremost, you have to have a well-formed opinion that you’re ready to express and defend.”

What do you think Parliament can do to make a difference in students’ lives?

“There are many things we can do, and at the same time, young people’s standard of living is constantly being improved. I have, for instance, been fighting for new laws regarding the Icelandic Student Loan Fund (LÍN) for a long time. I backed the LÍN bill that was proposed a few years ago. Though some people think it was flawed, it would have greatly improved the system had it passed. The bill proposed a grant system, similar to those in the other Nordic countries. This is one of the issues we must address, and it will be brought up again soon by the Minister of Education, with a few changes but a similar idea as before. Then there are of course other issues regarding young people we constantly have to consider in Parliament. We try to assist people in buying their own homes, having implemented the option of using private pension savings and more, which all helps younger people gain financial independence. Then there are many issues that affect everyone, both young and old, just by generally improving people’s lives. Young people make strong demands and should keep making strong demands, and Parliament can always improve when it comes to student issues.”

Do you feel that young people in management positions generally enjoy a lot of trust, for instance when it comes to decision making?

“A lot of trust has been placed in me when it comes to projects I’ve worked on, and I am very thankful for that. I would not be sitting here if older generations hadn’t entrusted me with my work. It may not be obvious, but Bjarni Benediktsson, chair of my political party, has demonstrated his trust in young people by appointing both me and Þórdís Kolbrún as ministers. We are the youngest female ministers in Icelandic history. Generally speaking, I feel I’ve been shown a lot of respect in my position from the moment I was elected to Parliament, both from my colleagues and in this work environment. It seems that it is more the public that tries to diminish your value because of your age. But if that’s the only criticism people have, I don’t have much to worry about.

“When I ran for secretary of the Independence Party in 2015, I was thinking I couldn’t just complain that the average age within the party is somewhat higher than the average age nationwide if we young people aren’t putting ourselves out there and running for office. We had to put ourselves out there if we wanted to change things. I think that over the last few years we’ve definitely moved in that direction, toward entrusting young people to be responsible and fill big roles.”

As a young woman in politics, do you feel more pressure to prove yourself than your male peers?

“Mostly no, but of course the discussion might be a bit different. People use it against you; they call you names and especially say how bad it is to be both young and female. That kind of criticism is obviously not constructive and has not negatively affected my work. Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done, and it means a lot to me to play a part in changing society’s stereotypes related to ministers and gender roles.”

What issues will you be focusing on as Minister of Justice?

“As I have just joined the ministry, I’ve had plenty to do just tackling the projects that awaited me in the first days and weeks. But the way I’m approaching this role is that I stand for certain values. I want every single thing I do here to reflect those values, which center on increasing freedom, simplifying people’s lives, and ensuring public safety in a broad context. There are of course a wide variety of complex and interesting projects in this ministry, and I am going to approach them with those values and therefore put my mark on this ministry.”

What is your opinion on immigration?

“Immigrants have never before been such a big part of Icelandic society. They are an important part of our society in many ways, whether economic or cultural. I believe we are doing a lot of good things in this area. Studies show that immigrants are happy in Iceland, see good opportunities, and feel welcome in our society. On the other hand, there are things we can improve, and we must work to improve the system so that immigrants feel as welcome as anyone else living here. The short answer is that we should welcome those who want to come here legally to work and live while also realizing that we cannot save everyone. The law must be clear and effective, and I will work hard to make sure that it is.”

What is your opinion on dental age assessments performed by the university?

“Dental age assessment is never performed without the informed consent of the person in question. There is always a lot of emphasis placed on making sure this examination is performed with the individual’s full cooperation and is not a burden for them. The system should be able to conduct a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s age, account of their life, circumstances, and any documentation that exists. Physical assessment is one aspect of this. Dental age assessment is not always performed but is sometimes part of this comprehensive assessment when needed. Dental age assessments have not been determined to violate the United Nations’ Convention on the Right of the Child. The Directorate of Health has published a report in which it is specifically noted that such assessments are performed with the subjects’ full cooperation. The results of such an assessment shall always be evaluated in context alongside other aspects of the case, and the applicant is given the benefit of the doubt by our laws on foreigners.

“As far as it is being performed as part of a comprehensive assessment and is not violating the individual’s rights, I think it is okay. I have a huge number of issues to consider in the ministry and this is one of them.”

But do you think that the university, as an institution of learning, is the right place for such assessments to be performed?

“The most important thing is that the person performing the age assessment meets all the requirements and that the rights of the person undergoing the assessment are respected. The Department of Dentistry at the University of Iceland is the only public institution in the country that performs dental services and handles teaching and research in dentistry. Therefore, it is the only public institution that can perform age assessment based on dental development.”

What is the work environment like in Parliament?

“It’s fun but of course also very unique. It’s completely different to show up to a workplace where for instance you might be on a parliamentary committee and be in the majority working with certain people, while others are working against you. But I was pleasantly surprised by the work and interactions within the parliamentary committees. There’s a lot of cooperation and a lot of issues addressed with broad support. I enjoy working with diverse people and find it easy to communicate with people even though I don’t always agree with them. That’s the key. It’s also important to hash out the politics in order to get the best results for our society.

“The work environment itself varies quite a lot depending on the time. It’s a lot of work when Parliament is in session and you often have to stay late. Then there are breaks that you can use to prepare things and meet people to increase your knowledge in certain areas. You’re constantly interacting with people, and I love hearing people’s stories and hearing what we can do to make their lives better, whether that means making it easier to buy their own home or making sure they get to take home a bigger chunk of their paycheck. Whatever the task may be, we’re dealing with people’s lives here, and it’s a very rewarding job.”

Do you generally manage to separate your private life from your political life?

“There’s definitely a certain sacrifice you have to make when you’re in politics. For instance, it’s sometimes difficult to separate your personal life from your public persona. It usually works out well, but on the other hand I give my all in this job. I’m single and have no children and have the chance to use my time very well. Of course, with many jobs you feel like your job is basically you yourself. It’s like you’re running a company called Áslaug Arna, and how you perform in that job determines the company’s fate.

“But it’s not necessarily a good idea to work too much, and you have to set limits and make sure you spend some time at home doing nothing, maybe even turning on this TV that I own but hardly ever use. You have to find a way to take care of yourself while at the same time giving your all on the job. There’s a certain art to it. And having been in politics for over three years now, I’ve found a balance that I’m happy with.”

You must be under a lot of stress. What do you most like to do to relax?

“I make sure to get some exercise several times a week. You think less about work when you’re moving and getting some good energy. Sleep is always a priority. I’ve seen that I don’t work as well when I don’t get enough sleep, and I’m not as successful when I sleep poorly. You can certainly push yourself and get through a few days or weeks being tired, but it doesn’t work long-term. Sleep is absolutely key, and I’ve made sleep a priority even though I’m often tempted to stay up later or get up earlier to get just a bit more done. You also have to really watch how you prioritize things, and you might manage to get a lot more done the next day because you’re well rested. Finally, my favorite thing is to go to a summer cabin to relax. There’s just a completely different atmosphere there than at home or work.”

“Parliament can always take another step forward for students”