A/HRC/24/31 the importance of transparency and the need for the Government to disseminate its human rights strategies and results achieved to encourage public evaluation and more accountability for human rights violations. A. Implementation of the recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review 18. The Government has continued to take the necessary steps towards implementing the recommendations of the 2011 Universal Periodic Review, including drawing up a detailed action plan for their implementation. In addition, it has conducted workshops across the country to assist authorities and Government institutions in the states to familiarize themselves with the recommendations and the time frame for implementation. Priority areas identified in the implementation plan for 2013 include administration of justice, law reform and ratification of some international human rights treaties. A committee of experts was set up to study the reform of laws such as the Criminal Procedure Act, the Criminal Act, the Evidence Act, the Personal Status Law and the Labour Act, and it has submitted its recommendations to the Government for consideration. The Government is also working on the amendment of the Press and Publication Act of 2009 to ensure more protection for journalists and newspaper publishers. The Independent Expert commends the Government for taking these positive steps towards implementing the UPR recommendations. The Independent Expert would like to recommend that the law reform process be extended to include the reform of the 2010 National Security Act, which continues to encroach on the enjoyment of fundamental human rights in the country. The Government should act expeditiously on the recommendations of the Committee in order to take the law reform process forward quickly and effectively. 19. The Independent Expert notes the strong cooperation between the Government and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with regard to the implementation of the UPR recommendations, which must be encouraged and sustained. The Government should aim for the full practical implementation of its action plan on the UPR recommendations and make a particular effort to realize tangible results in the areas of administration of justice, law reform and ratification of identified international human rights treaties, as priority areas specified in the action plan for 2013. In following the Independent Expert’s results-oriented approach, the Government should evaluate and publish the results achieved in the implementation of these three specified areas at the end of 2013. B. Legislative and institutional development 20. The Government has made progress in putting in place necessary legislation and institutional mechanisms for improving the situation of human rights in the country. The Bill of Rights provisions in the current interim national constitution serve as an important framework for the protection of human rights in the country. The Government has promised to retain these provisions in the new permanent constitution currently under discussion, which is a step in the right direction. The Government should, however, ensure that the full import of the Bill of Rights is realized by ensuring that operations of all State organs, particularly NSS, are in conformity with the constitution and international human rights standards. 21. The Independent Expert notes the important roles played by various bodies in the improvement of the human rights situation in the country. These include the Advisory Council on Human Rights (ACHR), the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR), the Human Rights Committee of the National Assembly, the Unit for Combating Violence 6