A/HRC/34/7 welfare of children. Mongolia commended Iceland for its continuous effort to combat domestic violence and sexual abuse through appropriate changes to legislation and practice. 70. Montenegro welcomed the high number of recommendations implemented and the determination of Iceland to further strengthen its national human rights institution by ensuring its alignment with the Paris Principles. Montenegro highlighted the gender equality policy and results achieved so far and encouraged Iceland to implement the recommendations of several treaty bodies to adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation covering all grounds. 71. Mozambique commended Iceland for topping the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index for the previous seven years. Mozambique hailed the work of the Icelandic Integration Development Fund, which emphasized projects and research to combat ethnic discrimination and racism and to strengthen the role of NGOs working with immigrants. 72. Namibia appreciated the amendments to the Gender Equality Act and the introduction of the equal pay standard. Namibia welcomed the policy to grant immigrants equal access to the labour market and the initiatives to strengthen the position of refugees and asylum seekers. 73. The Netherlands encouraged Iceland to ratify the Istanbul Convention promptly, to continue its remarkable efforts on gender equality and to share its best practices. It remarked on the strong record held by Iceland in terms of gender equality, which served as a positive model. The Netherlands noted that there was room for improvement regarding the equal chances afforded to men and women in education and that the gender pay gap had not yet been fully eradicated. Netherlands encouraged Iceland to continue its remarkable efforts on gender equality and to share its best practices. 74. Norway noted significant improvements since the previous review, when Iceland was suffering from the consequences of the global financial crisis. Icelandic authorities had managed, through a targeted policy, to improve the conditions for vulnerable groups. Norway noted that the rapid growth in the economy could easily result in a larger unregulated labour market and a need for a comprehensive approach to tackling corruption and tax evasion. Norway encouraged Iceland to strengthen protection against discrimination and develop more tools to address the rights of persons subjected to human trafficking. 75. Pakistan commended the significant progress made in promoting gender equality and empowering women. Pakistan appreciated the laws and policies introduced for the protection of refugees, migrants, older persons and persons with disabilities. 76. Panama welcomed the ratification in 2014 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the measures adopted for its effective implementation. 77. Paraguay welcomed the decision of Iceland to double the number of female ambassadors as part of its gender equality policy and the adoption in 2016 of the Execution of Sentences Act and the Act on Foreigners. Paraguay wished Iceland success in the implementation of the national action plan 2016-2019. 78. The Philippines recognized that Iceland was a world leader in gender equality and urged Iceland to address concerns regarding the reportedly high number of cases of violence against women. The Philippines welcomed the respect for workers’ rights in Iceland and the incorporation of provisions of the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families in Icelandic legislation. It remained concerned that Iceland had yet to establish a national human rights institution, with specific mandates on women and children’s rights, and did not have a comprehensive national human rights action plan. 10