A/HRC/34/7 99. Tajikistan welcomed the comprehensive policy to establish a positive environment in schools for children and the fact that it was the responsibility of schools to establish a framework against physical, mental and social violence. It noted the gender equality policy and the initiatives to support the rights of older persons by providing them with assistance and home care. 100. Thailand applauded the plan to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and welcomed the amendments to the Gender Equality Act and the Penal Code criminalizing domestic violence, but remained concerned about the persistent gender-based discrimination in the labour market and about the protection of the rights of migrant women. Thailand also welcomed efforts to ensure compliance with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and encouraged Iceland to fully implement the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders. 101. Timor-Leste welcomed the adoption of the National Action Plan against Trafficking in Persons and commended Iceland for taking the lead in promoting women’s rights particularly to increase the representation of women in the police. Timor-Leste commended the willingness of Iceland to improve its asylum procedures. 102. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela noted with concern the significant wage gap between men and women and the insufficient representation of women in decision-making processes, particularly in foreign affairs, the judiciary and academia. Like the Human Rights Committee, it expressed alarm at the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators of sexual abuse against children. 103. Portugal congratulated Iceland on the fortieth anniversary of its first gender equality legislation. It welcomed the new gender equality action plan for 2016-2019, which aimed at accelerating progress in the area of gender equality and equal opportunities for women. Portugal welcomed the public consultation process on the legislative proposal on establishing a national human rights institution in compliance with the Paris Principles. 104. The representative of Iceland, Ms. Bjarnadóttir, stated that a cross-sectoral action group had recently proposed a plan for bridging the gender wage gap. Among the proposals was concrete action to increase the number of men in health care and education and the number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 105. Regarding gender-based violence, the delegation reported that increased awareness and the resulting change in attitudes had led to an increased number of cases being reported to the police. With more attention and a thorough review of working methods, improvements had been made by the police in responses to complaints and notifications of domestic violence, better follow-up measures, reforms of the justice system aimed at providing greater legal protection for victims, support for domestic violence victims and viable ways of helping those who use violence in intimate relationships. 106. Recent amendments to the Penal Code allowed for more severe punishment in cases of violence among family members and a new act on restraining and expulsion orders empowered the police to remove perpetrators from their homes in cases of domestic violence. 107. The delegation stated that one of the measures taken to increase the effectiveness of investigations included a pioneer policing model on dealing with domestic abuse called “Keep the window open”. The model aimed at improving procedures for dealing with cases of domestic violence in order to ensure safety in the home, improve services for victims and offer treatment to offenders. It was also intended to help children in violent households and placed a special focus on providing services to immigrant women and victims with disabilities. 13