A/HRC/37/17 29. The Islamic Republic of Iran commended the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act, and the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its incorporation into domestic law. 30. Iraq applauded the accession by Sri Lanka to the majority of human rights instruments, the nineteenth amendment to the Constitution and the return of exiled journalists since 2015. 31. Ireland welcomed the ratification of human rights treaties, and the co-sponsorship by Sri Lanka of Human Rights Council resolution 30/1, but was concerned about intimidation and harassment of human rights defenders. 32. Italy commended Sri Lanka for ratifying a number of international instruments, for the National Human Rights Action Plan 2017–2021 and for incorporating previous universal periodic review recommendations during the implementation of the previous plan. 33. Japan commended the efforts towards national reconciliation, the development of the legal system, the protection and promotion of the rights of women, children and persons with disabilities, and poverty alleviation initiatives. 34. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic welcomed the National Human Rights Action Plan 2017–2021, and commended Sri Lanka for ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and enhancing the right to education. 35. Latvia appreciated the standing invitation to special procedures, but regretted that not all requests had been accepted. It acknowledged the legislative reforms that Sri Lanka had made to promote gender equality. 36. Libya welcomed the voluntary commitment of Sri Lanka to protect and promote human rights. It paid tribute to the Government for declaring 2017 as a poverty alleviation year. 37. Madagascar commended Sri Lanka for ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and for its 2015–2019 strategic plan against human trafficking. 38. Sri Lanka noted that it condemned any and all acts of torture, and was committed to ensuring that allegations of torture would be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. In particular, it noted the strengthening of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka by ensuring its access to places where there might be complaints of torture, the issuance of orders to all police and security officials forbidding torture of any kind, the provision of access for human rights organizations to places where allegations of torture had been reported, the inclusion of a chapter on the prevention of torture in the National Human Rights Action Plan 2017–2021, the zero-tolerance policy on torture at the highest levels of the Government, and the establishment of the Committee on Prevention of Torture. 39. Sri Lanka emphasized that it maintained zero tolerance for hate speech and religious violence, and that the National Human Rights Action Plan 2017–2021 contained a firm commitment to enforce section 3 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act, which criminalized hate speech. It noted that in June 2017 a circular had been issued instructing stern action against hate speech, requiring all police officers to take immediate action whenever hate speech was reported or occurred. It noted that several programmes for inter-community and interreligious dialogue had been launched by various relevant ministries. 40. Malaysia welcomed the progress made in combating gender-based violence and looked forward to full implementation of the National Action Plan on Sexual and Genderbased Violence. 41. Maldives welcomed the National Human Rights Action Plan 2017–2021, the new Bill of Rights and the Assistance to and Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses Act. 42. Mexico welcomed the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the adoption of the Right to Information Act, of 2016. 5