A/HRC/17/34/Add.1 12. The independent expert stresses that international human rights obligations complement domestic law and must be respected. The independent expert welcomes the efforts of the Vietnamese Government to ensure compliance with international standards through the Strategy on Judicial Reform, the Strategy on the Development of the Legal System and the Social and Economic Development Strategy. 13. The independent expert underlines that these reform efforts should take into account the universality and indivisibility of all human rights, and promote simultaneously and harmoniously all civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. Frequently the meaningful fulfilment of economic and social rights relies on the enjoyment of civil and political rights. To this end, the rights to freedom of opinion, expression and information (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 19; Convention on the Rights of the Child, art. 13), assembly (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 21), association (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 22; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, art. 8; Convention on the Rights of the Child, art. 15), as well as the right to participate in society (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 5; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, arts. 7 and 8) are fundamental in ensuring that individuals can raise their voices to ensure better social policies and enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. These rights must be implemented in accordance with the provisions contained in the above-mentioned articles. Particular attention should be paid to the rights of minorities to participate effectively in social, economic and public life and in economic progress and development (arts. 2(2) and 4(5) Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities). 14. During her visit, the independent expert noted the Government’s positive attitude towards accession to or ratification of further human rights instruments, as recently expressed by the Government in the course of its universal periodic review.9 In this spirit, she calls on Viet Nam to reaffirm its commitments to ratifying: the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Families; the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; as well as the Optional Protocols to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 15. However, being party to international human rights instruments is not sufficient; international standards must be incorporated into domestic legislation. While the Government has expressed its intention to harmonize its legislation with international human rights standards,10 additional efforts need to be made to accelerate the process. 16. The independent expert is also concerned about the lack of an independent monitoring mechanism for human rights violations. During her visit, she was informed about recent consultations on the establishment of a national human rights institution. She applauds the ongoing debate and underlines that a national human rights institution must be independent and in compliance with the Paris Principles relating to the Status of National Institutions. 17. In regard to development strategies, over the last two decades Viet Nam has followed a policy of poverty reduction through economic growth. Both the Comprehensive 9 10 6 A/HRC/12/50, paras. 479-480. A/HRC/WG.6/5/VNM/1, para. 72.