A/HRC/21/8 53. Concerning questions raised on provisions for mental health, the delegation said that the new Health Care Act would deal also with mental-health issues and measures had been adopted to promote it within preventive primary services and voluntary services. The Mental Health Care Act was also due for review; this was scheduled for autumn 2012. One amendment planned was a revision of the rights of patients in cases of compulsory hospitalization. 54. With regard to gender equality in the workplace, the delegation acknowledged that there was still a gender pay gap in Finland, which currently stood at 17 per cent. The main reason was the gender segregation prevalent in the labour market. Steps were being taken to bridge the gap through gender-awareness education, positive recruitment measures and steps to promote the equal sharing of parental responsibilities, including equal paternity and maternity leave. 55. As for the twin-track gender-equality strategy, the delegation said that gender mainstreaming was an important principle, and that it works better if there was a key focal point in the Finnish Government; this is the Ministry of Social and Health Affairs. An interesting innovation had been “gender budgeting”, with all ministries responsible for identifying gender aspects when allocating budgets. It had proved useful in increasing gender awareness and thus contributing to gender equality. 56. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland encouraged Finland to ensure effective implementation of the National Action Plan of 2010, especially with regard to women’s rights. It welcomed Finland’s commitment to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol and stressed the importance of this ratification. It referred to the creation of a national human rights institution. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland encouraged Finland to continue protecting the rights of the Roma minority domestically. It made recommendations. 57. The United States of America congratulated Finland for its record on the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual (LGBT) individuals. It expressed concern at the excessive length of judicial proceedings and the occasional failure to provide detainees timely access to legal counsel. While commending Finland on its system for monitoring trafficking in persons, it noted that more effort should be made to identify and support victims. It was concerned by reports of societal discrimination against ethnic minority in Finland. The United States of America made recommendations. 58. Uruguay noted the adoption of the Action Plan on Fundamental and Human Rights. Uruguay commended Finland for its commitment to improve the implementation of the CRC. However, it raised concerns about the practice of corporal punishment in homes. Uruguay welcomed Finland’s efforts to revise its legislation in compliance with CAT. It expressed concern over the use of administrative detentions for asylum seekers, irregular migrants, unaccompanied minors and other vulnerable people. It expressed concern over the Finish Government’s study of ICRMW, which recommended non-adherence to it. Uruguay made recommendations. 59. Uzbekistan asked Finland about measures that were envisaged to prohibit forced labour in the country, given that requiring destitute persons to work fell under the definition of forced labour under ILO Convention No. 29. It also asked what steps were being taken to ensure equal work opportunities for men and women, remove wage inequality and prohibit the dismissal of women because of pregnancy or childbirth. It made recommendations. 60. Algeria appreciated the commitment of Finland to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of allocating 0.7 per cent of GDP to Official Development Assistance. It encouraged Finland to consider reviewing its position regarding the ratification of ICRMW. Algeria also stressed the need to take new initiatives to eliminate the gender-based pay gap in addition to the tripartite equal pay programme. Algeria also noted the measures taken by 10