A/HRC/17/34/Add.1 B. Ensuring disaggregated and up-to-date data 91. The lack of quality data is a major shortcoming in social protection and poverty reduction schemes in Viet Nam. In order to ensure that the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups are reached and to design more effective social protection programmes it is essential to systematically collect quality data disaggregated by location, ethnicity, gender and age. Inadequate or general data not only hides the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups but can also lead to uninformed policymaking and inaccurate targeting of resources. 92. This is particularly crucial in relation to minority groups and internal migrants. Data on minorities should reflect the diversity of the many groups within this bracket, and should therefore be collected and disaggregated for as many ethnic groups as possible (currently it is disaggregated only for the five largest ethnic minority groups). Data on the numbers of internal migrants is also essential and must include short-term or seasonal migration. C. National coordination 93. Overall, Vietnam has to be praised for developing a broad range of national programmes regarding poverty reduction and social protection. However, this range also poses challenges. Greater coordination between sectors and ministries is needed. The Government should promote integrated approaches to deal with cross-cutting issues such as children’s rights, minorities and the inclusion of persons with disabilities. Greater coordination is also needed in regard to the health system. If the Social Health Insurance system is to be able to ensure the desired outcomes, it must be better integrated into comprehensive social and economic policies in which reducing poverty and ensuring compliance with human rights is prioritized. D. Participation and accountability 94. From a human rights perspective, meaningful and effective participation of beneficiaries in programme design and implementation is not only necessary to achieve ownership and sustainability, but is grounded in the human right to participation (e.g. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 25). Participation of beneficiaries must be ensured in all programmes and should be a core component of them. 95. The independent expert welcomes the Government’s recognition of the need to enhance the participation of ethnic minorities in the implementation of the various programmes targeting them. This is necessary both in human rights terms and to ensure greater effectiveness. For example, a recent evaluation of P-135 was generally positive, but concludes with a number of recommendations for improving the programme’s effectiveness, including increasing the participation of local communities.78 The independent expert underlines that meaningful participation would be impossible without the dissemination of relevant information in accessible languages and without the support of public officials able to communicate with minorities. 96. Taking into consideration the central role of social assistance schemes as a complement to the social insurance system, the independent expert calls on the Government to consider adopting a law regulating social assistance in Viet Nam. A legal instrument 78 Committee on Ethnic Minorities and United Nations, Reviewing the Past – Responding to New Challenges: Mid-Term Review of Programme 135-II, 2006-2008 (2009), p. 71. 21