A/HRC/33/17 8. Ireland had amended its Constitution to strengthen the rights of children, including the principle that the rights of the child were the paramount consideration in relevant proceedings. The Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 had established new legal architecture for children and set the rights of the child as the court’s paramount consideration in family law cases. 9. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission’s structural independence and the strength of its mandate had been recognized internationally and it had been accorded “A” status. Its founding Act placed a positive duty on public bodies to have due regard in their work for human rights and equality and to conduct their business in a manner consistent with individual human rights. 10. Ireland had sought the views of members of the public and civil society in preparing for the review. It was the first European Union member State to have published a national strategy on children and young people’s participation in decision-making, following a child-led consultation with 8 to 17 year olds. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 11. During the interactive dialogue, 93 delegations made statements. Recommendations made during the dialogue are to be found in section II of the present report. 12. The Holy See appreciated the new strategies against domestic violence and on children and persons with disabilities, and the establishment of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme. 13. Honduras welcomed the efforts of Ireland to implement the recommendations received during the first review cycle. 14. Hungary commended Ireland for its commitment to protecting human rights defenders. Hungary regretted that Ireland had not yet ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities or established the national preventive mechanism required under the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, in line with previously accepted recommendations. 15. India welcomed the establishment of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Workplace Relations Commission, the adoption of the Equality Act and recent measures to enhance the rights of the child. India encouraged Ireland to address the forced removal of Roma children from their families and their placement in State care. India was concerned at the disproportionately high level of unemployment among Travellers, Roma, young people and persons with disabilities. 16. The Philippines commended the establishment of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the adoption of the Equality Act. It encouraged Ireland to ensure migrants’ access to the labour market and social security, to address allegations of illtreatment of older persons and persons with disabilities in residential care, and to consider alternatives to institutionalization. 17. The Islamic Republic of Iran was concerned at racial discrimination against, and intolerance and profiling of Muslims and people of African origin. It shared the concerns of the Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding the state of health of children in singleparent families, children living in poverty and Traveller and Roma children. 18. Iraq welcomed the adoption of legislation enabling ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the establishment of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which would assist public bodies in performing their duties. 4 GE.16-12337