A/HRC/12/50 reforms and the public administrative programme, and hoped that Viet Nam would remain committed to implement fully the universal periodic review recommendations and outcome. 492. Yemen indicated that Viet Nam’s participation showed its commitment to the work of the Council and the universal periodic review. The report presented by Viet Nam to the Working Group had showed that it was implementing a strategic approach in the area of human rights. Yemen was pleased that Viet Nam had accepted many recommendations. This was a step forward in implementing the human rights instruments to which Viet Nam was a party. 493. The Russian Federation appreciated Viet Nam’s efforts to ensure fundamental rights and freedoms, maintain social stability, rapid economic growth and higher living standards. At the Working Group session in May 2009, Viet Nam had already expressed its readiness to implement the majority of the recommendations. The recommendations made by the Russian Federation were among the 93 supported. By the next cycle of the review, Viet Nam would have made major efforts to meet its goals, including raising living conditions and improving the quality of health and education. It wished Viet Nam further progress in protecting human rights and successful implementation of the obligations it had assumed under the universal periodic review. 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 494. The Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation appreciated the Government’s promotion of the participation of non-governmental organizations. Despite many challenges, the Vietnamese people benefited from the general improvement in living conditions, poverty reduction, women empowerment and the caring for children, persons with disabilities and ethnic minorities, and an active religious development. The process of building a law-governed State created better conditions for people to participate in the political life of the country. The political social system and media structure served the people’s interests best and were suitable for the situation. 495. Amnesty International regretted the rejection of important recommendations, including the repeal or amendment of national security laws of the 1999 penal code inconsistent with international law; the removal of other restrictions on dissent, political opposition, the freedoms of expression and assembly; and the release of prisoners of conscience. It was concerned that several prisoners of conscience were in detention and regretted that Viet Nam had not supported recommendations to adopt a moratorium on executions. It urged Viet Nam to reconsider these recommendations with a view to taking steps towards abolishing the death penalty. 496. The Vietnam Family Planning Association thanked the Government for involving non-governmental organizations in the universal periodic review process and commended its efforts in education, health care, child rights, gender equality and the elimination of discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. It appreciated the achievements made in improving living standards, reducing poverty, promoting social justice and progress, and noted the promulgation of laws on gender equality. Although the results were encouraging, Viet Nam still needed further improvements in providing better access to quality health services, including reproductive health, for ethnic minority people, youth and adolescents, and in further strengthening HIV/AIDS prevention and control. 497. International Pen noted that Vietnamese authorities had included freedom of expression, press and information among their priorities, but a significant number of writers, journalists and dissidents were being held in detention for having expressed their opinions or dissent publicly. Viet Nam was, in particular, urged to lift pre- and postpublication censorship. Finally, International Pen concurred with the Human Rights Committee’s recommendation to bring Viet Nam’s legislation into conformity to article 19 137