E/C.12/VEN/CO/3 enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, and for judges, prosecutors and the police about the need for strict enforcement of the law; (c) Improve the transparency particularly of the activities of the public administration. Access to information of interest to the public 13. The Committee is concerned about reports received that access to information of public interest is limited and that there is no law regulating such access. The Committee is also concerned that there is no effective accountability mechanism, thereby making it difficult to objectively assess the steps taken by the State party to ensure the full realization of economic, social and cultural rights (art. 2, para. 1). The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Take the necessary measures to allow free access to information on the organization, functioning and decision-making processes of the public administration, including through the adoption of a law on access to information of public interest, and through the transparency of public affairs in practice; (b) Ensure the effectiveness of accountability mechanisms, such as timely reporting on revenue and expenditure, and independent oversight standards; (c) Establish effective mechanisms for the dissemination of information that is of interest to rights holders concerning the realization of economic, social and cultural rights, such as eligibility criteria for social programmes, indicator results and accountability reports. Cooperation with civil society organizations 14. The Committee is concerned about information received regarding the lack of cooperation between the State party’s authorities and civil society organizations working in the field of human rights, which has, in some cases, resulted in their reputation being seriously undermined. The Committee is also concerned that safeguards are not upheld for the work of representatives of the non -governmental organizations that submit testimony to the United Nations human rights treaty bodies. (art. 2, para. 1). The Committee recommends that the State party redouble its efforts to establish constructive cooperation with civil society organizations and to ensure that all human rights defenders, including defenders of economic, social and cultural rights, are able to carry out their work free from any form of intimidation or threat. The Committee urges the State to put an end to defamatory statements against some of those who publicly participate in the dialogues that the Committee, in accordance with its working methods, holds with civil society organizations. Statistical data 15. The Committee takes note of the explanations provided by the delegation concerning the data-collection system that the State party has developed, but it regrets that neither the report nor the replies to the list of issues contain sufficient updated statistical data that would allow for a better evaluation of the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights in the State party (art. 2, para. 1). The Committee recommends that the State party continue to encourage the systematic collection of data and the production and use of statistics for human rights indicators, including indicators of economic, social and cultural rights, 4/10 GE.15-11219