Police remove poverty trap protest at Iceland parliament
Icelandic police removed a 'poverty trap' protest display from outside Parliament today. The disability rights group ÖBÍ organized the action to mark International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. New research shows one-third of disability pension recipients in Iceland live in poverty.
Icelandic disability rights group ÖBÍ placed a large 'poverty trap' display outside Parliament this morning. The protest marked International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Police quickly arrived and removed the installation.
ÖBÍ said the action highlighted how poverty affects many Icelanders. One-third of disability pension recipients live in poverty according to their statement. The organization called this unacceptable and a violation of fundamental human rights.
ÖBÍ chairperson Alma Ýr Ingólfsdóttir said poverty is more common than people realize. She noted many struggle with unexpected expenses like car repairs. People then use overdrafts with high interest rates that become difficult to repay.
Research conducted for ÖBÍ reveals the problem's scale. About 33% of disability pension recipients live in poverty. Some 39% skip birthday or Christmas gifts due to financial constraints. Nearly 70% cannot handle unexpected 80,000 krónur expenses without taking on debt.
Poverty remains a pressing issue in Iceland despite the country's high living standards. The protest removal shows how authorities handle demonstrations while the underlying economic struggles continue affecting vulnerable groups.