A/HRC/26/6 all strategies and policies for national socioeconomic development. Viet Nam has maintained an environment of peace and stability, sustained economic growth and improved material and cultural life. This has created the necessary preconditions for the promotion and protection of human rights in all political, civil, economic, cultural and social domains. 8. On 28 November 2013, the National Assembly adopted a Constitution, which represents a step towards a rule-of-law State and the institutionalization of human rights in conformity with the international human rights norms and instruments to which Viet Nam is a party. Since 2009, 25 key laws have been enacted or amended with a view to better compliance with and exercise of human rights and 41 national socioeconomic development strategies and programmes have been approved and implemented. 9. Viet Nam has strengthened cooperation and engagement with regional and international organizations, in particular the Human Rights Council, thereby making a significant contribution to the cause of human rights. 10. Viet Nam has been recognized internationally as one of the top performers in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The economic growth of 5.5–6 per cent from 2009 to 2012 permitted Viet Nam to accomplish the many set targets in labour, employment, health care, education and social security, such as creating 1.5 million new jobs every year, keeping unemployment below 2 per cent, and completing the universalization of primary and secondary education. 11. By the end of 2013, there were a total of 997 print newspapers and 1,084 publications. Nearly 17,000 licensed journalists are working in Viet Nam. Regular Internet users account for 34 per cent of the population. 12. There are 460 associations and social and professional organizations active at the provincial, interprovincial and national levels, as compared with 380 in 2009; 20 business trade union organizations; and over 36,000 associations, unions of associations and clubs at local levels operating in all walks of life. 13. The consistent policy of Viet Nam is to respect, ensure and create enabling conditions for all people to exercise the freedom of religion and belief. There are 8,500 religious and belief-related activities of varying scopes which take place annually throughout the country. 14. In June 2012, Viet Nam signed and ratified the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. In November 2013, it signed the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (CAT), which it will ratify, together with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Viet Nam has also signed a number of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions related to labour and employment. 15. Viet Nam presented reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in February 2012 and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in May 2012. It has submitted reports to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women; and is in the process of drafting its report for the Human Rights Committee. 16. Viet Nam has received visits from five special procedures, including the Independent Expert on minority issues (July 2010), the Independent Expert on extreme poverty and human rights (August 2010), the Independent Expert on the effects of foreign debt and other related international financial obligations of States on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic, social and cultural rights (March 2011), the Special Rapporteur on the right to health (December 2011) and the Independent Expert in the field of cultural rights (November 2013) and has extended invitations to three others. The 4