A/HRC/36/8 coordination structure and would continue to actively promote and protect everyone’s freedom of religion or belief and to support the work of human rights defenders. 7. With respect to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Finland was committed to a human rights-based approach to development commitments and focused on the rights of women and girls, as well as strengthening developing countries’ own economies and democratic societies. The report for the universal periodic review contained voluntary commitments regarding the development budget and funding for the least developed countries, as well as the commitment to submit a voluntary interim report in 2019. In the second review cycle, Finland had accepted 71 of the 78 recommendations received and another four in part. Moreover, in 2014, it had submitted a voluntary interim implementation report to the Council. 8. Responding to the written questions that had been submitted in advance, she highlighted the results of the first national action plan to prevent violence against women, the number and financing of shelters and other services for victims of violence, such as a 24/7 helpline, legal advice, witness support and online services, a variety of social services, and police reporting procedures. She mentioned the 2016 guidelines on creating a local treatment chain to help victims of sexual violence and a pilot project for publicly funded crisis centres. Other measures would be laid out in a four-year plan on the implementation of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention). Action to prevent violence against women was further strengthened by the Government Action Plan for Gender Equality. 9. The Government aimed to strengthen the participation of the Sámi and other local actors in the use and management of renewable natural resources in the Sámi Homeland. The new Act on the State Forest Enterprise included measures to ensure the rights of the Sámi to participate in land use management planning on State-owned land in the Sámi Homeland. The Government would decide later in 2017 whether it would pursue ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169). 10. Turning to the right to self-determination in the care of older persons and how the provisions of the National Action Plan on Fundamental and Human Rights promoted their rights, she noted that Finland was currently in the process of preparing extensive legislation on the strengthening of the right to self-determination of social welfare and health care clients and on reducing the use of measures restricting that right. Responding to the question on the definition of rape, she said that the legislation as a whole showed that the provisions were applied in cases where the victim had not given consent. 11. Concerning the participation of persons with disabilities in political and public life, Finland had ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2016 and a coordination mechanism had been set up in 2017. The new advisory board for the rights of persons with disabilities was composed of 18 members, 8 of whom were persons with disabilities. Furthermore, a human rights committee of persons with disabilities had been established as a permanent division under the Human Rights Delegation. She provided details on the right to vote and stand for election of persons with disabilities. Responding to another question, she said that the Government had decided not to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. 12. In an effort to restrict the number of manifestations of racism and xenophobia, particularly on the Internet, the Government had recently decided to allocate more resources to police activities for the prevention of hate speech on the Internet and the investigation of related offences. Turning to another question, she noted that a study on the rights and experiences of intersex children would be initiated in 2017, after which the Government would decide on relevant measures. In response to another question, she said that, according to a recent government proposal, the maximum duration for keeping remand prisoners in police facilities would be shortened to seven days and the conditions for placement would be tightened. As for the National Non-Discrimination and Equality Tribunal and its ability to award compensation to victims, she noted that the Nondiscrimination Act of 2015 provided for sanctions and remedies in a comprehensive 3