The United Nations conference on gender equality became less equal after Iceland announced only men could attend, according to The Associated Press.
The conference, or January's "barbershop" conference, will be "the first time at the United Nations that we bring together only men leaders to discuss gender equality," said Iceland's Foreign Affairs Minister Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, the AP reported, adding that the gender separation makes it "unique."
Sveinsson said the conference convened by his country and Suriname will be an "exceptional contribution" to events marking the 20th anniversary of a landmark U.N. conference on women in Beijing, according to the AP.
"We want to bring men and boys to the table on gender equality in a positive way," Sveinsson said, the AP reported. He said the meeting will have a special focus on violence against women.
The conference is part of a global campaign launched this month to get 100,000 men and boys involved in the fight for gender equality, which the United Nations had hoped would be achieved by 2015, according to the AP.
The head of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, said projections indicate that if things don't change, achieving gender equality will take 95 years, the AP reported.
At the "HeForShe" campaign launch this month, actress Emma Watson explained the urgent need to bring men into the fight for gender equality, according to the AP.
Iceland and Suriname are now leading a group of countries to stir up support for gender equality as the anniversary of the landmark Beijing meeting approaches, the AP reported.
Iceland and Suriname fall at opposite ends of global rankings on women's rights, according to the AP.
The Global Gender Gap Report 2013 compiled by the World Economic Forum ranked Iceland top in gender equality in economic, health and other matters. Suriname, the tiny South American country, was ranked 110th, the AP reported.
