A/HRC/38/16 ethnicity, religion, ideology, gender, disability, age, or sexual orientation had been made a criminal offence, punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment. 70. There had been no cases of violence or of crimes committed by extremists in more than five years. Extremist groups, such as European Action, had lain dormant since 2014 and no longer spread hate speech in the country to any significant degree. 71. Côte d’Ivoire congratulated Liechtenstein for the progress made since the previous review, including the establishment of a national human rights institution and the ratification of several international and European human rights instruments, such as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure. It also appreciated the efforts made in the areas of equality, non-discrimination and the fight against racism. 72. Ecuador welcomed the 2016 amendment of article 283 of the Criminal Code, incorporating a broad definition of discrimination that included language, nationality, ethnic origin, ideology, disability, age and sexual orientation. Ecuador also welcomed the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. 73. Estonia hailed the recent ratification of two of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. While welcoming the ratification by Liechtenstein of most international human rights instruments, it encouraged the Government to pursue efforts to reduce the treaty body reporting backlog. It welcomed steps to achieve gender equality in law and in practice. 74. France stated that Liechtenstein had implemented a number of important recommendations made in 2013, including the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. 75. Georgia welcomed the creation of an independent national human rights institution. It noted with appreciation that Liechtenstein was a signatory to most international conventions and welcomed the ratification of several international human rights instruments since the previous universal periodic review, including the recent ratification of two of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It commended effective policies to decrease consumption of addictive substances, urging Liechtenstein to purse those efforts. 76. Germany welcomed the ratification of two of the Optional Protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It commended Liechtenstein for establishing and sufficiently funding an independent national human rights institution and urged that body to seek accreditation from the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions. It encouraged Liechtenstein to further promote gender equality. 77. Ghana welcomed the establishment of an independent national human rights institution, in accordance with the Paris Principles, and hailed the ratification of various international and European human rights instruments. It further lauded the ongoing efforts of Liechtenstein to achieve balanced gender representation in the political process and in the labour market. 78. Honduras welcomed the establishment of an independent national human rights commission, in accordance with the Paris Principles, and the ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and of the Istanbul Convention. 79. Iceland commended Liechtenstein on progress regarding the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons. It welcomed projects aimed at raising awareness of the gender pay gap and at empowering and encouraging women to participate in political processes and public debate. It hailed the leadership role adopted by Liechtenstein in promoting accountability in the Syrian Arab Republic via the drafting of General Assembly resolution 71/248. 10