A/HRC/34/7 30. Algeria welcomed the measures taken by Iceland since 2011 to fight gender inequality and, in particular, to achieve wage equality and set a minimum quota for women serving on public committees and company boards. Algeria also welcomed steps taken with respect to the rights of persons with disabilities, particularly through law and policy. 31. Argentina congratulated Iceland for its endorsement of the Safe Schools Declaration and its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Argentina noted the adoption of normative and institutional initiatives to protect and improve the situation of women. 32. Armenia commended Iceland for its exemplary human rights record, particularly on gender equality and women’s rights, the inclusion of human rights in curricula and efforts to provide inclusive education. Armenia welcomed legislative and administrative measures to promote the rights of persons with disabilities and encouraged Iceland to continue ratifying human rights instruments. 33. Australia commended Iceland on the progress made while noting that the Icelandic Human Rights Centre had no ongoing funding or statutory standing as a national human rights institution. Australia noted the lack of comprehensive legislation to protect the rights of intersex people and called on Iceland to strengthen protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. Australia called on Iceland to strengthen protection for the elderly. 34. Bangladesh noted the concerns of treaty bodies regarding crucial areas of inequality affecting women, especially those expressed by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women about the difficulties encountered by migrant women in accessing employment and health care and about their exposure to violence. It noted that the Committee on the Rights of the Child was concerned that the best interests principle was not being applied in ensuring parents’ access to children. 35. Brazil shared the concern of the Committee on the Rights of the Child about the possibility of migrant children not receiving health-care coverage. It urged Iceland to improve access by children and adolescents to educational materials and general information about health services. Brazil commended the amendment to the Gender Equality Act aimed at accelerating progress on gender equality. 36. Canada congratulated Iceland for topping the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index and encouraged it to continue to make efforts to close the gender pay gap by 2022. Canada commended Iceland for resettling refugees referred by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). It appreciated the ongoing exchanges between Canada and Iceland on best practices on integration and the high participation rate of migrants in the labour market. 37. Chile highlighted the initiatives undertaken by Iceland aimed at countering genderbased discrimination, in particular the establishment of a 40 per cent quota in governmental committees and public businesses’ councils and boards. It acknowledged the progress made in the areas of migration and refugee status determination, as well as the legislative measures taken to protect the rights of persons with disabilities. 38. China expressed concern about racial discrimination and xenophobia, the lack of improvement in overcoming gender inequality and women often suffering from violence. The rights of children, older persons and persons with disabilities were yet to be fully guaranteed. Migrants were subject to discrimination in employment, education and health care. China urged Iceland to take effective measures to resolve those problems. 39. Colombia highlighted the leadership shown by Iceland in the areas of gender equality and women’s rights. It highlighted the adoption of the national action plan against 6