A/HRC/41/7 9. As a country with numerous religions and beliefs, Viet Nam respected and created enabling conditions for freedom of religion and belief, while prohibiting all forms of discrimination based on religion, including through the introduction of the law on religions and beliefs of 2016. Many major international religious events had been held in Viet Nam, such as Vesak 2014 (and the scheduled Vesak 2019) and the quincentenary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017. 10. Freedom of the press, freedom of expression and the right of access to information were ensured, as evidenced by the strong growth of the press, Internet use and social media. There were more than 900 press agencies, 18,000 journalists and 60 publishing houses, and the number of publications had grown 5 to 10 per cent annually. Viet Nam was one of the countries with the fastest Internet growth in the world, with 50 million Internet users (54 per cent of the population) and 58 million active Facebook accounts. 11. By the end of 2017, Viet Nam had more than 68,000 groups, associations and organizations representing all walks of life, along with non-governmental organizations (NGOs). They had contributed to national development and had participated responsibly in law-making and policymaking activities. Consultations on a draft law on association were being held with all stakeholders before its submission to the National Assembly for consideration. 12. Significant resources had been allocated for ensuring economic, social and cultural rights, prioritizing sustainable development and social equality, with a particular focus on women, children, the poor, the elderly, persons with disabilities and ethnic minorities. An economic growth rate above 6 per cent had been maintained, creating millions of new jobs every year. Poverty reduction policies had been vigorously implemented, helping reduce the proportion of poor households to 7.7 per cent according to the multidimensional poverty index. Millions of underprivileged persons had benefited from health insurance at no cost and were entitled to monthly social welfare payments. Nationwide universal education for kindergarten and primary education had been completed. Poor households in rural areas, low-income households in urban areas and students received housing assistance. 13. Equality among 54 ethnicities was ensured by concrete policies and prioritized resources for the development of ethnic minorities, narrowing the development gaps and preserving ethnic minority languages. Ethnic minorities actively participated in political activities, holding key positions in the national political system, and had access to a wide variety of radio and television broadcasting programmes in their languages. 14. Viet Nam promoted gender equality and ensured women’s rights. Women accounted for 27 per cent of National Assembly deputies. Women’s workforce participation rate was 73 per cent, and women were in leadership positions in 30 per cent of businesses, including leading corporations. Measures had been taken to strengthen the prevention of and fight against all forms of violence against women, as well as victim assistance. 15. Viet Nam allocated resources for child protection, childcare and education, and encouraged children’s participation in issues relevant to them. The law on children of 2016 and the programme to promote children’s right to participate in child-related issues, 2016– 2020, had been introduced and were being implemented. Since 2017, the National Committee on Children and the national call centre for children had been in operation to receive reports, provide consultation for and handle cases of child sexual abuse or violence against children. 16. Viet Nam participated actively in United Nations human rights mechanisms and cooperated with OHCHR and the special procedure mandate holders. Since its previous review, Viet Nam had hosted the visits of a number of special procedure mandate holders and ratified the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It had also submitted national reports on the implementation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture. National reports on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities would be submitted in the near future. 3