Draw the line! Sexual harassment in the workplace. Parallel event at CSW 2025 in New York.

A collaboration between the Gender Equality Commission of the Faroe Islands and the Norwegian Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud.  

Agenda

Erika Anne Hayfield, researcher from the Faroe Islands, will give an introduction to challenges to gender equality in peripheral areas given the context of a Nordic welfare model. 

The Norwegian Equality Ombud will present a interactive tool to educate and spread awareness on sexual harassment called Draw the line: https://quiz.settestrek.no/en/start. 

Panel discussion on sexual harassment in the workplace

How far have we come in the Nordic countries? How can we improve and build on our efforts moving forward?

On the panel

• Halla Nolsøe Poulsen, Chair of the Gender Equality Commission of the Faroe Islands   
• Bjørn Erik Thon, The Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud of Norway 
• Elisabeth Erke, Member of the Governing Council of the Sámi Parliament in Norway 
• Linn Andersen, Special advisor at the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO Norge)  
• Erika Anne Hayfield, Associate Professor of sociology at the University of the Faroe Islands 

About the panelists

Halla Nolsøe Poulsen is the Chair of the Faroese Gender Equality Commission, and the Director of Nordic Atlantic Cooperation, NORA. She is the previous Head of Faroese Representation in Iceland with a demonstrated history of working in the international and diplomatic affairs industry.  

Bjørn Erik Thon is the Norwegian Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud, and was appointed in 2022. He has a law degree, and he is the former director of the Data Protection Authority. He was the Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman from 2000-2010. He has been a political advisor at the Royal Ministry of Justice and Public Security. 

Elisabeth Erke has vast political experience, both from the Sámi parliament and from the municipal level in Norway for the Centre Party. She has strong commitment ensuring that the voices of indigenous women are heard, and their knowledge is valued. This is especially important because indigenous women experience multiple forms of discrimination and are too often subjected to violence. 

Linn Andersen is a special advisor at the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO Norge) and is responsible for the work on equality. She has been a part of the City Government of Oslo, and has been the City ​Council Secretary for culture, sports and volunteerwork, and for labour, integration and social services. She has a master’s degree in Gender studies from the University of Oslo.  

Erika Anne Hayfield is an Associate Professor of sociology at the University of the Faroe Islands. Her research and writings are in the fields of gender equality, gender and the labour market, migration in small island societies and social dynamics in island/rural places. Prior to her academic career, Erika was a governmental advisor for the Minister of Trade and Industry on matters of gender equality, including the challenges the Faroe Islands face of out-migration (especially of women).