E/C.12/DOM/CO/4 of tolerance in which they can perform their work free of any type of intimidation. In that regard, it refers the State party to the Committee’s statement on human rights defenders and economic, social and cultural rights (E/C.12/2016/2). Independence of the judicial system 11. The Committee is concerned about the lack of effective guarantees of judicial independence in the State party. It is particularly concerned at the fact that the composition of the National Council of the Judiciary is not such as to guarantee that the selection and appointment process will effectively ensure the independence, ability and integrity of high court judges (art. 2 (1)). 12. The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary steps to ensure that judges, including high court judges, are selected and appointed in a transparent and objective manner by an independent body on the basis of merit, ability and integrity. The Committee urges the State party to take the necessary steps to guarantee the independence and security of tenure of the judiciary as a means of safeguarding the enjoyment of human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights. Ombudsman’s Office 13. While noting the existence of the Ombudsman’s Office, the Committee is concerned that the Office does not have the requisite capacity or independence to effectively carry out its mandate for the promotion and protection of human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights, and that it has not been accredited as complying with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (Paris Principles) (art. 2 (1)). 14. The Committee recommends that the State party adopt the legislative and administrative measures needed to ensure that the Ombudsman’s Office has the necessary authority and resources to comply fully with the Paris Principles and that it can therefore effectively carry out its mandate to promote and protect human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights. The Committee encourages the State party to ensure that the Ombudsman’s Office applies for accreditation from the SubCommittee on Accreditation of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (formerly the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights). Corruption 15. While noting the information provided by the delegation on efforts to prevent corruption, the Committee is concerned that these efforts are not effective enough and finds it regrettable that it has received no information on acts of corruption that have been investigated and whose perpetrators have been punished (art. 2 (1)). 16. The Committee recommends that the State party address, as a matter of priority, the underlying causes of corruption and that it adopt all necessary legislative and administrative measures to ensure transparency in public administration and to combat corruption effectively. It also recommends that the State party undertake independent, thorough investigations into all cases of corruption at all levels and that it publish its findings. Fiscal policy and investment in social spending 17. While noting that raising tax revenues is one of the priorities set out in the National Development Strategy 2030, the Committee is concerned that tax revenue and social GE.16-18306 3