ABSTRACT
Human rights in Iceland are strong in many respects and much has been accomplished. The status of women is (relatively) good, the rights of children are well established, and the country is small with a rather extensive social security system. Violent crime in the society seems to be less than in many other places, but both the children and the elderly are vulnerable to neglect
One of the strongest values in Iceland’s cultural heritage is personal independence. In spite of the many favorable qualities that fostering independence can bring, in the context of family violence, it can lead to an overemphasis on the role that a victim should play to resolve the abuse, and even to victim blaming. This is one of the most serious problems in addressing family violence in Iceland; in such a small, relatively safe society, where living conditions are good, people may refuse to acknowledge the problem that abuse in close relationships presents, and believe that those who experience such abuse should have the means and opportunities to avoid being abused, regardless of whether they actually can or not.
