A/HRC/12/50 and would consider accession to other appropriate ILO conventions. Nevertheless, Viet Nam did not find accession to Convention No. 169 indispensable. It was strongly committed to continuing to fully implement all recommendations that it had accepted. 480. The First Deputy Minister provided additional information on a number of issues. Firstly, the freedom of press and freedom of expression were protected by Vietnamese laws in accordance with international norms. At the same time, journalists were accountable before the law for their actions. Secondly, Viet Nam paid attention to the development of human rights institutions, including a national committee, which it believed depended mainly on the particularities of each nation. Viet Nam had in place a diversified system of institutions to protect and promote human rights with efficiency and effectiveness. Thirdly, Viet Nam stood ready to cooperate with special procedures. Recently, it had extended invitations to five special procedures, was discussing with the independent expert on human rights and extreme poverty the timing of a visit, and was looking positively at the timing of a visit by the independent expert on minority issues. Fourthly, the total number of offences subject to capital punishment had been cut to 21. However, circumstances did not allow Viet Nam to abolish or place a moratorium on the use of death penalty. Lastly, Viet Nam was positively considering accession to the Convention against Torture, and other ILO conventions, and ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Viet Nam was studying the possibility of accession to the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court and other international treaties. 481. Viet Nam reaffirmed the universal and particular nature of human rights as defined in core human rights treaties and in the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, and reiterated that human rights must be addressed in a fair, impartial, constructive and non-selective manner through dialogue. 2. Views expressed by Member and observer States of the Council on the review outcome 482. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic recognized that Viet Nam had successfully implemented the renovation policy of Doi Moi, and had achieved comprehensive socioeconomic and cultural development along with achievements in human rights implementation. It also acknowledged Viet Nam’s consistent policy of considering its people at the centre of social and economic development, and welcomed Viet Nam’s commitment to poverty reduction, the growth strategy for 2005–2010, the strategy on judicial reform, the strategy on the development of a legal system vision for 2020 and the national strategy on gender equality for 2011–2020. 483. Brunei Darussalam stated that Viet Nam’s constructive approach to the recommendations illustrated its commitment to enhance human rights. It supported Viet Nam’s endeavours to promote democracy, social equality and security, and welcomed measures to better ensure economic, cultural and social rights, especially of women, children, ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities. It appreciated Viet Nam’s role in the realization of the Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 484. Myanmar welcomed Viet Nam’s constructive engagement and its acceptance of most of the recommendations. Since 1986, the Government had enacted and revised 13,000 laws and bylaws to be in conformity with the Constitution. Significant progress in socioeconomic development had been achieved and Viet Nam had already attained or surpassed many of the Millennium Development Goals set for 2015. Myanmar expressed its belief in Viet Nam’s continued commitment to strengthening the full enjoyment of all human rights by its citizens. 135