A/HRC/41/39/Add.4 55. Subheading C. Ethnic minorities The Lao PDR does not recognize any of its ethnic groups as “minorities” for the reasons already explained in the comment number 20 of this document. Therefore, the term ethnic groups or ethnic groups with smaller population is preferred. 56. Para 63 The promotion and protection of women’s rights is a priority of the Lao Government, the constitution of the Lao PDR 2015, Article 35 and Article 37 define that all Lao citizens are equal before the law irrespective of their gender, social status, education, beliefs and ethnicity, and Lao citizens of both genders enjoy equal rights in the political, economic, cultural and social fields and in family affairs. Article 29 of the Constitution has also stated that the State, society and families attend to implementing development policies and supporting the progress of women and to protecting the legitimate rights and benefits of women and children. The efforts to ensure the promotion of gender equality, elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against women and children have also include in the Law on Development and Protection of Women 2004, the Law on Women’s Union 2013, the Law on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Children 2015, the amended Law on Education 2015, the amended Law on Labour 2013 (Article 45 stipulates that employee who performs equality, quality and value of work are entitled to receive equal salary, wages and other benefits without any discrimination as to race, nationality, gender, age, religion, beliefs, or social-economic status), and the amended Law on Criminal Procedure 2012 (Article 13 stipulates that the criminal proceedings must be conducted on the basis of equal rights of all citizens before the laws and the people’s courts without discrimination on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, social-economic status, language, education, occupation, belief, place of residence, and etc). An act of gender discrimination violates the criminal law of the Lao PDR as stated in penal law Article 177. (New) Discrimination against Women: any person who discriminates against [any woman], or who keeps [any woman] separate from, or prevents or restricts the participation of any woman in, any political, economic, socio-cultural or family activity, based on gender reasons, shall be punished by imprisonment from one year to three years and shall be fined from 1,000,000 Kip to 3,000,000 Kip. The Government of the Lao PDR has always attached importance on empowering of women in all sectors by continuing to put in place policy and work plans to ensure that Lao women participate in the political life and decision making positions, women in Lao PDR play an important role in the nation’s political life. In 2015, women occupied 19.6% of the total 62 ministerial and equivalent positions, 12.3% in the total number of 121 deputy minister and equivalent positions, 16.2% of the total 437 director general positions, 19.6% of the total 946 deputy director general positions, 5% of the total 50 deputy provincial governors, 6% of the total 48 district chief positions. To ensure women continue participation in political and social rights, the National Commission on the Advancement of Women and Mothers-Children has created the FiveYear National Plan of Action for Gender Equality (2016-2020) which includes a target for each sector to have women in leadership and decision making positions at least 15-20%. 57. Para 64 Please see comments number 18 and 19 above. 58. Para 73 Lao PDR rejects to the term used in the report “… repressive policies designed to suppress and deter all civil society …”, please see comments numbers 29 and 30 above. 13