relevant treaty bodies". These are: I. II. III. a report on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), which became due on 24 March 2015; a report on the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT), which became due on 26 October 2013; and a report on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which became due on 30 June 2009. Lao PDR's International Obligations Human Rights Treaties 17. As a member State of the UN (admitted 14 December 1955), Lao PDR is obliged by the UN Charter to promote 'universal respect for, and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion'.12 These human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to a nationality in Article 15, are specified in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), many of which are also recognised as principles of customary international law.13 18. Lao PDR has international obligations to protect the right to a nationality and protect the rights of stateless persons on the basis of other UN and regional treaties to which it is a party. These include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Art. 24.3), the Convention of the Rights of the Child (Arts. 7 and 8), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Art. 5(d)(iii)), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (Art. 18) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Art. 9). 19. Lao PDR is not a party to any of the Optional Protocols of the above-mentioned human rights treaties which relate to the communication of complaints. 20. Lao PDR's ratification of the ICCPR is subject to a reservation in relation to Article 22, and a declaration in relation to Articles 1 and 18. Lao PDR's ratification of the CAT is subject to a reservation in relation to Articles 20 and 30, and a declaration in relation to Articles 1 and 8. The reservations and declarations mentioned above do not directly relate to issues of statelessness. 21. Lao PDR is not a Party to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness; Concluding Observations by UN Committees 22. Several UN Treaty Bodies (on the core human rights treaties) have also made recommendations to Lao PDR on issues of statelessness. These include recommendations to: I. facilitate timely birth registration of children, especially in rural and remote areas, by conducting awareness-raising campaigns, removing language barriers and deploying 12 Charter of the United Nations, art 55(c). According to Article 56 of the Carter, it is the obligation of all member states of the UN to take "joint and separate action in cooperation with the Organisation for the achievement of the purposes set forth in Article 55." 13 International Law Commission, “Draft Articles on Diplomatic Protection with Commentaries”, 58th session, Yearbook of the International Law Commission, Vol. II, Part Two, 2006, p. 49. 4