CERD/C/LAO/CO/15 page 3 13. The Committee is concerned at the situation with respect to independent non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in the area of human rights and the prevention of discrimination (art. 2). The Committee invites the State party to pave the way for the emergence of independent national NGOs. 14. The Committee notes the absence of legislative provisions criminalizing acts of violence and incitement to violence on racial grounds. The Committee invites the State party to adopt legislation to fully implement the provisions of article 4 of the Convention. 15. The Committee takes note of the statement by the Sate party that racial discrimination does not exist in its territory and understands the State party to mean by that statement that it does not engage in systematic discrimination. The Committee recalls its customary reservations regarding a general declaration of this nature, since, in its opinion, no State party is free from racial discrimination in its territory. 16. The Committee notes that, as the State party has acknowledged, poverty strikes the ethnic groups in the remotest areas hardest (arts. 2 and 5). The Committee recalls that the Convention prohibits not only intentional and systematic acts of racial discrimination but also discrimination that is not the direct result of a deliberate effort by the Government to prevent part of its population from enjoying its rights. In the Committee’s view, the low level of economic, social and cultural development of certain ethnic groups as compared with the rest of the population might be an indication of de facto discrimination. It therefore recommends to the State party that it conduct studies with a view to assessing and evaluating in concrete terms the extent to which racial discrimination exists in the country and to ascertain its principal causes. Statistics broken down by ethnic group on political participation and the standard of living of the population might be included in the next periodic report. 17. The Committee takes note of the delegation’s explanations regarding the reluctance of the authorities to classify ethnic groups in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic as minorities or indigenous peoples (arts. 1, 2 and 5). The Committee recommends to the State party that it recognize the rights of persons belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples as set out in international law, regardless of the name given to such groups in domestic law. It invites the State party to take into consideration the way in which the groups concerned perceive and define themselves. The Committee recalls that the principle of non-discrimination requires that the specific characteristics of ethnic, cultural and religious groups be taken into consideration.