A/HRC/31/37 responses received to the questionnaire that was distributed for the preparation of the present report bear witness to the variety of legal and policy measures taken by States with the aim of providing protection and assistance to the family. 58 The responses addressed several policy areas, ranging from specific measures for families living in poverty, social security and social protection measures, and measures aimed at the protection of specific family members. A. Legal instruments 52. In some States, the family unit enjoys constitutional protection or protection under special laws. In Hungary, the Fundamental Law of Hungary and the Act on the Protection of Families (2011) prioritize support to families in the central budget planning. In Colombia, Law No. 1361 on the Integral Protection of the Family (2009) established the National Observatory on the Family and provides legal backing to the National Policy to Support and Strengthen the Family. 53. Other States reported changes to their general legislation aimed at enhancing protection of the family institution. In 2015, Argentina amended the Civil Code (Law No. 26994). The new Code establishes a system whereby couples can opt for the matrimonial regime of marital property or separation of property, provides for special protection of the family home and recognizes equal status to children born of assisted reproduction. Sweden recently reformed its criminal and civil law, which strengthens protection against forced marriage and child marriage, including abolition of the exemption to child marriage, introduction of more stringent criteria for recognizing foreign marriages and criminalization of unlawful coercion or exploitation to marry. 54. Several States have introduced changes in their legislation to allow for the legal recognition of relationships between persons of the same sex. In Argentina, the Egalitarian Marriage Law (No. 26618) expressly allows for same-sex marriages. In Sweden, the reform of the Marriage Code in 2009 made the definition of marriage gender neutral, thus granting people the right to marry regardless of the sex of the spouses. In other countries, same-sex couples are recognized by judicial action.59 55. Other States described legislation that recognizes unmarried couples or de facto unions. The Swedish Cohabitees Act (2003) provides minimum protection to members of de facto unions in the event of separation. In Chile, Law No. 20.830 (2015) or the Civil Union Agreement recognizes civil unions of same-sex and opposite-sex couples. As part of their domestic legislation regarding the family, many States reported the existence of special instruments aimed at protecting family members against violence and abuse. 56. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Law on Gender Equality affords protection against gender-based violence, while the territorial entities in the country have adopted legislation on domestic violence and protection of family members in that context. Similarly, Oman reported the existence of an overarching set of legislative measures to protect women from all forms of violence, including sexual and intra-family violence, as well as trafficking and new forms of slavery (see Royal Decrees No. 74/2007 and No. 126/2008). 57. In 2012, Trinidad and Tobago adopted the Children Act, which enhanced the legal protection of children against sexual abuse, prostitution and child pornography. The Act introduced reforms in several areas, including the definition of child; the introduction of 58 59 Copies of all submissions can be found at www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/ ProtectionFamily.aspx. See submissions from Colombia, Mexico and the United States of America. 15