E/C.12/VNM/CO/2-4 aid for indigent complainants. It also recommends that the State party raise awareness among the population about mechanisms and procedures available to seek remedies. Moreover, the Committee urges the State party to condemn acts of intimidation or reprisals against individuals claiming violations of their rights and to take appropriate measures against those found responsible for such actions. National human rights institution 10. The Committee is concerned that the State party does not have a national human rights institution. The Committee calls upon the State party to expedite the process of establishing a national human rights institution, compliant with the Paris Principles. The Committee refers the State party to its general comment No. 10 (1998) on the role of national human rights institutions in the protection of economic, social and cultural rights. Enabling environment for civil society 11. The Committee is concerned that civil society cannot operate freely and independently in the State party. It also expresses serious concern at reports of harassment and imprisonment of human rights defenders and of obstruction to their cooperation with international human rights mechanisms. The Committee calls upon the State party to create an enabling environment for the free establishment and functioning of independent civil society organizations, outside the purview of the sociopolitical organizations mentioned in the Constitution. The State party should also provide effective protection against harassment, arrest and detention of human rights defenders, including by prosecuting and punishing those responsible for such acts. Corruption 12. The Committee is concerned about the extent of corruption in the State party and its adverse effect on the realization of economic, social and cultural rights. The Committee is also concerned at the low number of convictions since the entry into force of the AntiCorruption Law in 2005 (art. 2, para. 1). The Committee urges the State party to address the root causes of corruption and related impunity and to ensure that public affairs are conducted, in law and in practice, in a transparent manner. In that regard, it recommends that the State party effectively enforce compliance with the legal provisions on assets declaration and on protection of the human rights of those who are engaged in anti-corruption activities, in particular victims, whistle-blowers, witnesses and their lawyers. Non-discrimination 13. The Committee is concerned at the absence of an effective legislative framework for enforcing the non-discrimination provisions of the Covenant and the State party’s Constitution (art. 2, para. 2). The Committee recommends that the State party adopt a comprehensive antidiscrimination law defining, prohibiting and sanctioning discrimination on all grounds. The said law should cover not only direct but also indirect discrimination and provide for the implementation of temporary special measures and remedies for victims. In that regard, the Committee draws the State party’s attention to its general comment No. 20 (2009) on non-discrimination in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. 3