A/HRC/31/11 association. It encouraged Oman to grant the National Human Rights Commission greater independence. 100. The United States of America remained concerned at the Government’s limited efforts to hold forced-labour offenders accountable through criminal prosecution, at the continuing restrictions on freedom of expression and civil society and at the detention of bloggers. 101. The delegation of Oman noted that Omani legislation guaranteed freedom of assembly as long as the assembly was peaceful, did not disturb the public order or jeopardize health and avoided violating others’ rights. It explained that the law did not criminalize assembly per se, but rather only in respect of the commission of offences under provisions of the law. In the event that such an offence was committed, a trial in which all legal rights were guaranteed was held. 102. The delegation added that the Omani legislation also guaranteed freedom of association. Although the law on civil associations promulgated through Royal Decree No. 14/2000 made the Ministry of Social Development responsible for receiving applications for the registration of civil associations, it required the Ministry to justify negative decisions in that regard in accordance with article 11 of the law. The law also provided for the possibility, should an application be rejected, for associations to appeal to the Minister within a month from the date of receipt of the refusal decision. In the event the Minister rejected the appeal, the association concerned had the right to appeal the Minister’s decision before the independent administrative judiciary court to verify the validity of the administrative decisions. The registration of many associations during the recent period, in various fields and for various purposes, underlined the flexibility and transparency of the registration procedures. 103. The delegation noted that the Sultanate had experience as a leader in integrating human rights in the field of education. The most prominent steps taken in that regard were the issuance of the child law, which made education free and compulsory, and the implementation of the Arab plan for human rights education for the period 2009-2014. The plan was based on several pillars, including the integration of the concepts of human rights in school curricula, the training of staff in human rights education and the dissemination of a culture of human rights. 104. With regard to children with disabilities, the delegation mentioned that the Ministry of Education worked to provide equal educational opportunities for all students in the Sultanate without discrimination. Integration programmes for persons with mental disabilities and hearing impairment were included in elementary education. Further opportunities were provided for the completion of university studies; in that context, a number of deaf students — graduates of the school year 2013/14 — had been sent to the United States of America and Jordan to complete their studies. 105. The delegation noted that the institutions of higher education had introduced the concepts of human rights in their cultural programmes. Moreover, advisory student councils at institutions of higher education had been launched in the academic year 2014/15 with a view to promoting among students the practice of the democratic process. 106. Uruguay expressed hope that Oman would soon implement its decision to accede to the Convention against Torture. It encouraged Oman to ensure the full independence of the National Human Rights Commission. 107. Uzbekistan welcomed the national strategies to protect and promote the rights of children, women, the disabled and the elderly, as well as activities to raise awareness of human rights. 11