A/HRC/19/13 39. The delegation stated that it was illegal to pay migrant workers less and to grant them fewer rights than those negotiated by the labour unions for other similar workers. As regards the Children’s House, it was stated that following its establishment in 1998, there had been a dramatic increase in the level of social awareness of the sexual abuse of children. The child-friendly and professional environment at the Children’s House had facilitated a positive attitude toward reporting cases to the local Children’s Protection Services, which in turn referred individual cases to the Children’s House for investigation. The Government Agency for Child Protection had also introduced additional measures in relation to violence against children and a pilot project aimed at supporting children in situations of domestic violence and ensuring their voices were heard. 40. Iceland recently adopted the so-called “Austrian model” which permitted the police to remove a violent person from the home in order to protect other members of the household. This was a fundamental change from the previous approach, which had been to remove the women and children and place them in women’s shelters. 41. There were challenges in relation to custody and visitation in the area of domestic violence. A bill on a new children’s act, which will be before Parliament later in 2011, will address this matter. Judges and District Commissioners will be conferred the responsibility to access whether the child will be at the risk of violence. The bill will also incorporate the general principles from the Convention on the Rights of the Child into Iceland’s law. 42. The delegation stated that prostitution was a crime, but it was the purchase, advertising and facilitation of the act that was illegal in that the prostitute, child or grownup was always treated as a victim and not as an offender. On the issue of gender equality, the delegation stated that there was advancement towards gender equality. However, gender inequality persisted. Women were greatly underrepresented in management positions in private companies. Also, there was a gender pay gap despite legislation on equal pay for equal work. The Government has taken various measures to address this challenge. Genderbudgeting would be a key concern in budget preparation and economic policy. 43. On the issue of prison conditions, it was reiterated that a new prison would be built and completed in the next few years. Once completed, the small and inadequate prisons could be closed. The new prison will have separate facilities for women, and prisoners could be separated in groups based on their different needs. A very small number of persons under the age of 18 could serve an unconditional sentence. Also, changes in the Execution of Sentences Act would result in prisoners completing their sentences by doing community service or they could be monitored electronically 44. In answer to questions on the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities it was stated that ratification was being prepared and was scheduled to take place in 2012. 45. In response to questions on discrimination on the base of race or ethnicity it was stated that various projects to fight discrimination had been launched in recent years and more comprehensive legislation was being prepared. 46. Regarding the challenge of preservation of the welfare system during the financial crisis, the important role of the Welfare Watch in monitoring the welfare service and making recommendations to the government was underlined. 47. The delegation discussed efforts in the school system and a new school legislation and curriculum as well as efforts to minimize the high drop-out rate of immigrant from the upper secondary-schools. 48. Further, the delegation mentioned efforts to strengthen the independence of the judiciary. 8