A/HRC/29/7 77. The delegation emphasized that the death penalty was maintained in its legal system in accordance with international human rights standards, and that there had been a moratorium on executions for some years. 78. The delegation noted that the Decree on the Management and Protection of Religious Activities was undergoing revision to ensure compliance with international treaty obligations, including article 18 of ICCPR, relevant UPR recommendations and those of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. 79. The delegation stated that the Government had implemented measures on development and on poverty reduction, especially as regards ethnic minorities. Penal Law prohibited all acts of discrimination based on ethnicity, and barriers to participation on the basis of ethnicity are considered punishable. 80. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic specified its commitment to ethnic diversity in national governance, highlighting that all ethnic groups play an increasing role in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the nation. 81. The delegation noted that, in implementing the relocation policy of the Seventh National Socioeconomic Development Plan, the Government attached importance to preserving culture and livelihoods through public consultation meetings while creating suitable and necessary conditions for new development sites. 82. With respect to the Hmongs returning from Thailand, the delegation emphasized that Hmong people had equal rights to travel documents, passports and border passes. 83. In addition, the delegation stressed the strategic goal to eradicate mass poverty by 2015, and to graduate from the status of least developed country by 2020, noting that the Government was presently formulating the next five-year National Socioeconomic Development Plan for the period 2016–2020, with a focus on poverty eradication, equity growth and human resource development. 84. The delegation highlighted that education and health-care services in urban and rural areas had been improved as regards accessibility and quality. 85. The delegation noted that additional resources were required in order to achieve by the end of 2015 the targets of the Millennium Development Goals in the areas of nutrition, gender equality in primary education, the reduction of maternal and child mortality, the environment and unexploded ordnance clearance. The delegation referred to unexploded ordnance as a major humanitarian risk factor and a significant obstacle to development. 86. The delegation also noted that consultations had been held with stakeholders in formulating the guidelines to implement Prime Minister’s Decree No. 013/PM, 2010, on international NGOs. The delegation went on to state that the Government had promulgated the Decree on Association No. 115/PM, 2009, and the Decree on Foundations No. 149/PM, 2011, which are in the process of improvement. Since opening for registrations in 2009, 147 associations and 10 foundations had officially registered. 87. In addition, the Government has attached great importance on the prevention of human trafficking. The country participated in the ASEAN and Greater Mekong submission framework as well as the implementation of the Australia-Asia Programme to Combat Trafficking in Persons. 88. The delegation noted that violations of individual freedoms of speech, writing, assembly and association were criminal offenses under Penal Law of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. In 2014, the Government issued a decree on the Internet in order to regulate social media. The decree forms a legal basis for the exercise of the right to freedom of access to and expression of opinion online. 10