A/HRC/29/7 18. Moreover, the Government extended its goodwill cooperation by providing information and clarification to the special procedures of the Human Rights Council in respect of their queries, questions or issues of interest concerning human rights practices in the country. 19. At the regional level, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has contributed to the development of human rights in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in terms of institution-building and standard-setting. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic actively participates in the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children and has contributed to the drafting of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, the ASEAN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the ASEAN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Children. 20. In addition to the institutionalized bilateral human rights dialogue with a number of States, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has exchanged views and experiences on human rights with some other countries to share good practices on human rights implementation. 21. He added that, despite the achievements made, the country faced a number of constraints and challenges, including unexploded ordnance, underdeveloped infrastructure, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, limited human resources and budget constraints. 22. To overcome these challenges and constraints, the Government has set priorities focusing on socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, the rule of law, the improvement of governance, continuing efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, continuing efforts on unexploded ordnance clearance, the improvement of public health service, education and the protection of women, children and other vulnerable groups. 23. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is considering the ratification of additional human rights conventions, including the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED) and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families (ICRMW). The Lao People’s Democratic Republic will continue to disseminate information on human rights and translate human rights obligations and commitments into national policies, laws, strategies, programmes and projects. It will also consider inviting special rapporteurs to visit on a case-by-case basis. An invitation will be soon sent to the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context to visit the country in the course of 2015. 24. He noted Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s candidacy for membership of the Human Rights Council for the period 2016–2018, highlighting that, if elected, it would do its utmost to contribute to the effectiveness and efficacy of the Council, and would continue to make concerted efforts to better the human rights of the Lao people. B. Interactive dialogue and responses by the State under review 25. During the interactive dialogue, 73 delegations made statements. The recommendations made during the dialogue can be found in section II of the present report. 26. Norway noted the acceptance of its recommendation on maternal and child mortality and access to education made at the first UPR cycle. Norway encouraged a focus on achieving those Millennium Development Goals that were off-track. 27. Paraguay commended the accession to international human rights instruments, the revision of legislation aimed at protecting women and children’s rights, and several 5