not been given full effect in the State party’s domestic law and, therefore, that not all Covenant rights can be invoked before the courts (art. 2). The Committee recommends that the State party take all the steps necessary to guarantee the full effect of Covenant provisions in its domestic legal system, including through the courts. In the light of the ongoing constitutional reform, the Committee invites the State party to give direct constitutional recognition to the Covenant so as to guarantee its enforceability by the courts. It also recommends that the State party provide mandatory training to enable judges, lawyers and other relevant professionals to uphold economic, social and cultural rights.In this respect, the Committee draws attention to its general comment No. 9 (1998) on the domestic application of the Covenant. National human rights institution The Committee is concerned that the institutional shortcomings of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, identified by the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, including in relation to its independence and the selection process for Commissioners, have still not been fully overcome (art. 2). The Committee recommends that the State party take all necessary legislative and other measures, including following up on the recommendations made by the International Coordinating Committee, to ensure that the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand is a fully independent institution with the necessary resources to fulfil its mandate in conformity with the principles relating to the status of national institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights (the Paris Principles). It also recommends that the State party create the conditions necessary for the Commission to fully exercise its mandate in relation to economic, social and cultural rights and protect victims of violations of these rights. Corruption The Committee is concerned at reports indicating widespread and pervasive corruption, despite measures taken by the State party, and its adverse impact on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights (art. 2). The Committee recommends that the State party: Address, as a matter of priority, the underlying causes of corruption; Enhance the effectiveness of the legal, structural and policy measures to combat corruption at all levels and in all sectors; Ensure protection to victims of violations of economic, social and cultural rights caused by corruption, and to their lawyers, as well as to whistle-blowers and witnesses of corruption cases; Implement awareness-raising campaigns about the detrimental impact of corruption on the allocation of the maximum amount of available resources for the fulfilment of economic, social and cultural rights; Regularly evaluate the impact of the measures taken. Rights of indigenous peoples 9.The Committee expresses concern at the lack of recognition of indigenous peoples by the State party (art. 1 (2)). In the light of the ongoing constitutional reform, the Committee invites the State party to reconsider its position and give legal and political recognition to its indigenous peoples based on self-identification. The Committee recommends that the State party in particular guarantee the right of indigenous peoples to own, use, control and develop the lands, territories and resources that they have traditionally owned, occupied or otherwise used or acquired. The Committee also encourages the State party to consider ratifying the International Labour Organization (ILO) Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169). Land and natural resources The Committee is concerned at the: Denial of the traditional rights of ethnic minorities to their ancestral lands and natural resources and the concentration of landownership in the hands of a very small proportion of the population; Information received that the implementation of its forest conservation policy, in particular orders No. 64/2557 and No. 66/2557 of 2014 of the National Council for Peace and Order, has resulted in the destruction of crops and forced evictions; Adverse effects of economic activities connected with the exploitation of natural resources, including large-scale projects such as the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, on the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by people living in the areas concerned and the lack of participatory mechanisms and consultations, as well as limited access to information for the individuals and communities affected (arts. 1 (2), 2, 11, 12 and 15). The Committee recommends that the State party take all the steps necessary, including revising its legal and policy framework, to: