A/HRC/34/7 50. Replying to questions about the establishment of a national human rights institution in line with the Paris Principles, the representative of Iceland, Ragna Bjarnadóttir, said that a legislative proposal had been drafted by the Ministry of the Interior following open consultations, including for a new body based on the existing Icelandic Human Rights Centre. The proposed national institution would take on activities required under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. A new national action plan for human rights would be presented to Parliament in 2017. 51. Concerning the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture, a proposal drafted by the Ministry of the Interior provided for the Parliamentary Ombudsman to fulfil the functions of the national preventive mechanism required under the Optional Protocol. The Icelandic authorities were making every effort to ensure that the Ombudsman could take over that new function early in 2017. 52. The delegation provided an overview of current legislation to combat the use of torture, including legislation allowing prisoners to appeal against their conditions of detention to the Ministry of the Interior, which had to respond within four working days. Torture was not specifically defined in the Penal Code, but article 68 of the Constitution prohibited torture and inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment, in line with article 3 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights). Unlawful compulsion and wrongful arrest were prohibited under the Penal Code. 53. As for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, since 2014 work had been under way, in consultation with the public, to revise the act on legal capacity, the Act on the Affairs of Disabled Persons and the Municipalities’ Social Services Act, to protect the legal capacity of such persons, prevent their forced hospitalization and provide for user-controlled personal assistance and independent living. The Ministry of Welfare was expected to make an action plan on matters of disability available online, for open review. Progress was being made on pensions for persons with disabilities. The Social Security Act adopted in October 2016 had increased pensions for those with the lowest incomes. 54. In response to a question from Bangladesh, the delegation stated that since 2011 official development assistance had increased by 74 per cent in real terms. The development strategy of Iceland for 2017-2021 would be decided upon by the new Government. 55. Concerning measures to combat trafficking, a national steering group was responsible, in line with a national action plan, for identifying victims of trafficking and of forced labour; devising an educational programme on trafficking for relevant professionals and the trade unions; and training labour inspectors to detect forced labour. Iceland was planning a comprehensive public awareness campaign on workers’ rights. 56. Greece commended Iceland for its recent activities to promote gender equality, the amendments to the Gender Equality Act, including quotas, commitments to promote and protect the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, its comprehensive integration policy for refugees and migrants and the significant efforts made on behalf of the elderly and persons with disabilities. 57. Guatemala noted the progress made in the promotion and protection of human rights in Iceland, particularly with regard to refugees and asylum seekers. However, national refugee laws should be reviewed so that they were fully aligned with provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and relevant international standards. 58. Haiti noted that improvements had been reported with respect to gender equality, ethnic discrimination and racism and the rights of people with disabilities, particularly 8