A/HRC/49/5 67. Viet Nam welcomed, inter alia, the enactment of a legal framework to ensure gender equality and the efforts made to combat domestic violence. 68. The delegation of Greece stated that the welfare system had had to respond to three significant challenges: the past decade’s financial crisis, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-pandemic era. New horizontal programmes had been introduced, the current State budget for social solidarity had been increased by 22 per cent and several measures had been taken to safeguard vulnerable groups. 69. Greece had transformed its reception system to provide fair and efficient treatment of asylum seekers, while remaining fully committed to doing more. The NGO registry was in full compliance with national and European legislation, including the right of association. Efforts had been made to build an integrated child protection system for unaccompanied minors, at both the institutional and the operational levels, and a comprehensive national strategy had been developed and implemented. 70. With regard to border protection and the allegations of forced returns (so-called pushbacks), the delegates from the Hellenic Police and the Hellenic Coast Guard explained the existing multilayered national mechanism, comprising internal controls, judicial controls and the Greek Ombudsman as an independent monitoring mechanism, and the roles of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and various NGOs in that respect. 71. Policy measures had been promoted with particular reference to Roma women, women with disabilities, older women, migrant and refugee women and women living in poverty, and progress had been achieved on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention. 72. Regarding the situation of Muslim minority in Thrace, freedom of association was unequivocally, firmly and duly protected by the Greek Constitution, and over the past 10 years, more than 50 associations established by and comprising members of the Muslim minority had been registered with local courts in the region. As for the cases Bekir-Ousta and others and Emin and others, the hearing at the Supreme Court of Greece had taken place on 1 October 2021 and its ruling was expected to be delivered in due course. 73. Muslims in Rhodes and Kos were Greek citizens, enjoying all the rights and obligations of Greek citizens irrespective of religion, and they had their own mosques and foundations. 74. Afghanistan commended Greece for positive developments such as the legal recognition of gender identity. 75. Albania welcomed the delegation of Greece. 76. Algeria welcomed the adoption of the first national action plan against racism and intolerance. 77. Angola encouraged Greece to pursue the necessary structural reforms aimed at improving the living conditions of the population, following the recent economic crisis. 78. Argentina congratulated Greece for the reform of the Penal Code and recognized its efforts to address the current migration crisis. 79. Armenia highlighted the measures taken to protect minorities and combat trafficking in persons, and the adoption of several national action plans. 80. Australia commended Greece for the concrete steps taken in several areas and encouraged further promotion of human rights standards, including regarding vulnerable groups and minorities. 81. Austria acknowledged efforts including the ratification of the Istanbul Convention and the new legislation on gender equality and combating gender-based violence. 82. Azerbaijan thanked the delegation of Greece for the presentation of the national report and wished it a successful review. 83. The Bahamas noted the efforts made to protect persons with disabilities, combat violence against women and trafficking in persons, and ensure access to health care and education. 6