A/HRC/44/6 64. The Philippines commended the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for the advances made in the areas of development and poverty reduction, including in the areas of basic education and health-care services. 65. Poland expressed appreciation for efforts made to improve and develop national laws in line with United Nations human rights standards, but expressed concern about the detention and enforced disappearance of human rights defenders. 66. Portugal welcomed the progress made in the protection of the rights of the child and the promotion of gender equality, as well as visits by United Nations special rapporteurs. 67. Qatar expressed appreciation for the measures taken to implement recommendations from the previous review and noted efforts to strengthen national institutions and to create new machinery to comply with treaty obligations. 68. The Republic of Korea noted the progress made on gender equality and was encouraged by the efforts made in poverty reduction, judicial reform and access to health and education. 69. The Russian Federation expressed satisfaction with the reforms undertaken to implement the master plan for rule of law, and the active participation of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in regional cooperation on human rights. 70. Serbia welcomed the efforts invested and measures taken to improve human rights, including in the raising of awareness of and training on human rights. 71. Singapore commended efforts made in children’s education and poverty reduction. It urged the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to investigate and resolve the case of Mr. Somphone’s disappearance in an expeditious manner. 72. Slovenia welcomed the importance accorded to awareness-raising and human rights training for State officials and the public and noted the handbook on basic human rights. 73. Solomon Islands noted that the National Steering Committee on Human Rights had been renamed the National Committee on Human Rights, which had a mandate to promote human rights. 74. Spain welcomed the progress made in strengthening the normative framework on the rights of the child. It noted an increase in detentions of and attacks on human rights defenders. 75. Sri Lanka welcomed the amendments to the Constitution and noted that the Lao People’s Democratic Republic had incorporated the provisions of ratified human rights treaties into its domestic law. 76. Switzerland expressed concern about cases of enforced disappearance, the lack of progress in Mr. Somphone’s case, and restrictions on the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association. 77. The Syrian Arab Republic welcomed the efforts made by the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, particularly with regard to improving living standards and the gradual improvement made under the strategic development plan for 2016–2025. 78. Thailand commended progress towards graduation from least developed country status and applauded the achievements in promoting gender equality and the efforts to increase literacy and school enrolment rates. 79. Timor-Leste welcomed the measures taken to increase access to education and the adoption of the national action plan on the prevention and elimination of violence against women and children. 80. Tunisia welcomed the ratification by the Lao People’s Democratic Republic of a number of international conventions, the launch of new programmes and the adoption of the law on combating gender-based violence. 81. Turkmenistan welcomed the efforts made by the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to become an upper-middle income country by 2030, and acknowledged the adoption of the plan for making and amending laws (2015–2020). 7