A/HRC/15/5 41. Spain highlighted efforts with regard to projects concerning access to drinking water and basic sanitation, including the investment plan for the urban water sector for the period 2005-2020, and made a number of recommendations. 42. In response, Laos explained, with regard to questions on women’s and children’s rights, that it promoted the advancement of women and gender equality, as provided for in the Constitution. In 2004, the National Assembly had adopted the Law on the Development and Protection of Women, and in 2006 it had adopted the Law on the Protection of Rights and Interest of Children. The country had also acceded to various international conventions, such as CEDAW and CRC and its two Optional Protocols. 43. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic had developed appropriate national mechanisms to promote and protect the rights of women and children, such as the National Commission for the Advancement of Women and the National Commission for Mothers and Children, and it had developed a number of national strategies and plans on the issue. In addition, the Lao Women’s Union had established information and counselling services in various provinces and districts. Gender equality had been mainstreamed into the fiveyear social and economic development plans. The Government would continue to implement strategies and programmes to enhance access to education and health services for women and girls, in particular in rural areas, including through Government-funded ethnic boarding schools in most provinces. 44. With regard to health services, it was noted that a programme of immunization had been conducted throughout the country and that the Government would continue to provide medical services and first-aid kits for all villages. 45. Concerning gender equality, attention was drawn to the fact that women now accounted for a quarter of the deputies in the National Assembly. An increasing number of women also held high-ranking positions in the Government, including the Vice-President of the National Assembly, two ministers and seven vice-ministers. At the local level, many women acted as provincial vice-governors, district chiefs or heads of provincial or district departments or offices, or as village heads. The school enrolment rates for girls and women were also increasing. 46. As for child labour, Laos had ratified and implemented the ILO Convention on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. With regard to human trafficking, the country had adopted laws to combat trafficking and had also set up a National Steering Committee for that purpose. It was a party to the Palermo Convention and its relevant protocols, and it cooperated with countries in the region as well as with international organizations. Law enforcement agencies had been strengthened, and a number of perpetrators had been prosecuted. 47. On questions relating to the judiciary, Laos noted that its Constitution clearly defined the role, function and authority of the People’s Court and the Public Prosecutors, which were separate from the executive branch of the Government. High-ranking officials of the People’s Court and the Public Prosecutors were appointed by the National Assembly and reported to it. 48. Since the promulgation of the Constitution in 1991, Laos had progressively worked to develop the rule of law and promote the independence of the courts and public prosecutors. A law on the operation and functioning of the People’s Court and a law on public prosecutors had been adopted by the National Assembly in 2003, and a separate budget had been allocated for their operation and development. 49. The People’s Court and the public prosecutor were working independently, and any interference in their work was prohibited. In addition, a law on the handling of petitions had been adopted in 2006. The law provided for the right to file individual complaints, 8