A/HRC/34/7 11. The first universal periodic review of Iceland, in 2011, had resulted in 84 recommendations, most of which had been accepted by the Icelandic authorities. An interministerial working group had consulted civil society in preparing the report for the current review; a draft report was published on the Ministry of the Interior website. Civil society had also submitted its own reports for the current review. 12. The strongest domestic criticism during preparations for the universal periodic review concerned the slow process of ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Following the adoption of a parliamentary resolution, the Government ratified the Convention on 24 September 2016. 13. Since Iceland had submitted its report, there had been further developments, mostly as a direct result of the universal periodic review process. 14. Following recent changes to the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men (Gender Equality Act), a wage equality standard had been introduced in the form of equal pay certification for companies and institutions. A recent action plan on gender equality provided for mainstreaming gender, within four years, in all policymaking and decision-making efforts, gender budgeting and reviewing the Gender Equality Act. The action plan covered the labour market and equal pay, gender-based violence, education, health and international cooperation. It provided for measures to increase the role of men in achieving gender equality. The maximum payment for parental leave had recently increased significantly, to enable both parents to take parental leave. 15. The proposed revision of the Social Security Act, to simplify the benefit system and increase the flexibility of voluntary retirement, had been approved by Parliament in October 2016. The minimum pension had been increased to ensure an adequate standard of living for those with the lowest incomes. 16. In June 2016, Parliament had adopted a new Act on Foreigners, to provide increased safety for people seeking international protection, focusing on the best interests of the child, vulnerability and the situation of stateless persons. The act set a time limit of 18 months for reviewing applications for international protection and residency and provided for a reception and screening centre where asylum seekers’ needs and health conditions would be assessed upon arrival. The number of asylum seekers was predicted to reach 1,000 in 2016. 17. An action plan on integration, adopted in September 2016, aimed to draw upon the diverse cultural backgrounds, knowledge and skills of immigrants to enrich Icelandic society. Steps would be taken to ensure easy access for immigrants to public services and encourage their active participation in society. The authorities would seek broad consensus with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the media and the private sector in implementing the action plan. 18. The delegation emphasized the importance given to education in Iceland, which was egalitarian and homogenous, based on values of democracy, inclusion and equal opportunities. Conscious of the dangers of hate speech, the Ministry of Education had been involved in the No Hate Speech Movement since 2014, with the active participation of young people. 19. For the first time, in 2016 the Minister of the Interior had submitted a human rights report to Parliament outlining, as an important step, the establishment of an interministerial human rights steering committee tasked with enhancing and coordinating the implementation of human rights commitments and following up on the outcome of the universal periodic review. 4