Reykjavík proposes removing human rights council from city rules

Reykjavík is considering removing its human rights council from a list of bodies elected for four-year terms under the city’s governing rules, mbl.is reports. The city council’s presiding committee sent the proposal to a second debate in the council, but it has not been finally approved.

The proposal would reduce the number of specialist councils named in the rules from seven to six. Reykjavík’s city council discussed it for the first time on October 20. A letter from the city council office says it was prepared in response to changes to the city’s committee structure.

The proposed changes would also remove resident councils, the multicultural council and the violence prevention committee from a list of other bodies elected by the city council. Provisions on the election of representatives to the accessibility and consultation committee on disability issues, Reykjavík’s child protection district council, the board of the Brú pension fund and the senior citizens council would also be removed from the list. The proposal does not by itself indicate whether those bodies’ work would end or be transferred elsewhere.

The proposal would increase the number of full members on the audit committee from three to four, while keeping the number of alternate members at three. It would also update the list of minutes to be included on the city council’s agenda to reflect the revised committee structure.