A/HRC/12/11* production, and provision of added resources for social safety from the State budget. The target is to bring the poverty rate below 10 per cent in 2010. 70. The delegation noted that international standards on the rights of employees and on trade unions are stipulated and protected in the Constitution and laws, and that Viet Nam has signed and ratified a number of ILO conventions. Viet Nam’s trade union has nearly 8 million members in enterprises of both State and private sectors and is the legitimate representative body in protecting the interest of employees. Viet Nam is studying the contents of the remaining conventions, including ILO Conventions 87 and 98. 71. Viet Nam will strictly enforce the law on gender equality and the law against domestic violence, which was adopted in 2006. 72. The delegation noted that Viet Nam is a unified country with 54 ethnic groups, 53 of which are minorities making up nearly 14 per cent of the population. The equal political rights of the ethnic minorities are proclaimed in the Constitution, and any ethnic-based division or discrimination is forbidden. The proportion of ethnic minorities in all levels of the administration is increasing. Nationalities enjoy equality in education and health care, and the cultural identities, language and scripts of all nationalities are preserved and promoted. Viet Nam builds houses for poor ethnic minority people, promoting education and builds boarding schools for ethnic minority students. Languages and scripts of the ethnic minorities are taught in their schools and public offices; the areas of ethnic minority people have seen rapid development and improved conditions, with places of worship preserved and upgraded. The delegation acknowledged that ethnic minority areas still lag behind in terms of development. 73. On religious issues, the State considers religion and belief a legitimate demand of the people, as proclaimed in the Constitution and legal documents. Viet Nam has 20 million followers of Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam, among others. Religious activities as Vesak of Buddhism, Christmas and Easter of Catholicism and Protestantism and Ramadan of Islam are organized with the participation of hundreds of thousands of followers. Viet Nam has also allocated land for the religions to build worshipping places. Religious texts have been printed in ethnic minority languages, such as Bana, Ede, Jarai and Khmer. 74. The Criminal Code had stipulated 44 offences subject to the death penalty; that was now reduced to only 29 offences and the death penalty was only applied to extremely serious crimes, such as drug trafficking and cruel murder to deter the criminals. Public opinion in Viet Nam is not yet ready for the complete removal of the death penalty. In 2006, Viet Nam revised the law on complaints and denunciation, which allows organizations and individuals to lodge lawsuits in the judicial court to review the decisions made by administrative agencies related to the legitimate rights of the plaintiff. 75. The delegation stated that Viet Nam has enacted codes, laws and provisions to ensure social safety and deal strictly with acts infringing on national security and social stability, including the 1999 Criminal Code and the 2004 Law on National Security. The laws related to national security are in conformity with Viet Nam’s socio-economic and political conditions as well as the international laws that Viet Nam has acceded to. There are no so-called “prisoners of conscience” and no one is arrested for criticizing the Government; only those who violate the laws have to bear criminal responsibility. 76. The delegation stated that any violations committed by individuals, State agencies or law enforcement officers shall be strictly dealt with in accordance with the law in force. Joining CAT is in principle in conformity with the policy and law of Viet Nam, which is taking speedy steps to join this Convention. 14 GE.09-16382