A/HRC/48/15 110. Egypt noted the efforts Latvia had made to promote and protect human rights since the previous universal periodic review. 111. Estonia commended Latvia for the progress it had made in promoting gender equality by achieving a high rate of participation of women in political affairs and economic life, and in protecting the rights of ethnic minorities. 112. Ethiopia congratulated Latvia for achieving full gender equality in law and the progress made concerning environmental accessibility for persons with limited mobility and inclusive education for children with special needs. 113. Fiji commended Latvia on its efforts to combat human trafficking and on the amendments to the Labour Law to ensure equal treatment for men and women in the workplace. 114. Finland appreciated the engagement of Latvia with the universal periodic review process. 115. France welcomed the progress made in the situation of human rights in Latvia, particularly regarding professional equality, and invited Latvia to pursue its efforts. 116. Georgia welcomed the steps taken by Latvia to advance women’s rights and combat gender-based violence and acknowledged its efforts to strengthen the judicial system and to ensure the right to a fair trial. 117. Germany appreciated the contribution of Latvia to advancing human rights, nationally and internationally. It welcomed the successful measures taken to support harmonious relations between communities, including by granting automatic citizenship to children of non-citizens. 118. Greece commended Latvia on its promotion of gender equality in all spheres of public and political life and invited it to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. 119. Iceland welcomed the national report of Latvia, noting the various steps outlined therein, and hoping for their continued implementation. 120. India appreciated the approach Latvia had taken to promoting economic independence and equal opportunities for women in the employment sector. It also welcomed the initiatives Latvia had taken to combat hate crime, while noting the discrimination against Roma. 121. Indonesia commended Latvia for the integrated approach taken in improving public participation in decision-making, as well as in advancing gender equality. 122. The Islamic Republic of Iran welcomed the delegation of Latvia to the third cycle of the universal periodic review, made recommendations and wished it a successful review. 123. Iraq welcomed the institutional and policy measures taken by Latvia to promote the right to education, as well as its adoption of the asylum law and the amendments thereto. 124. Ireland welcomed the adoption of the law ending the granting of non-citizen status to children and the progress made in aligning domestic laws with the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. 125. Latvia, answering additional questions, noted the overall increase in expenditure on social protection in the past five years. It briefed delegations on the broad minimum income reform, which had begun in 2021. 126. Latvia said that the rights of persons with disabilities would remain a priority, as it was striving to move away from a purely medical approach to disability. 127. While recalling the objectives of the State Language Law, it noted exceptions where the use of other languages was foreseen. 128. Latvia recalled that it was one of the first countries to have issued a standing invitation to the special procedure mandate holders of the Human Rights Council. 129. It mentioned the various efforts deployed to combat trafficking in human beings. 9