A/HRC/27/35 Technology Act had been amended in 2011, while the Right to Information Act had been passed in 2005 to guarantee free access to information. The representative of Morocco reported that a second series of reforms in the area of press and media would be adopted in order to implement the new Constitution, which enshrined the freedom of thought, opinion and expression in all its forms, guaranteed the right to information and provided that press freedom could not be limited by censorship. Proposed measures included the creation of a national press council. The representative of Algeria stated that a legislative framework was currently being developed for the communications and media sector, in collaboration with media professionals and specialists. The representative of Montenegro stated that insults and libel had been decriminalized, and also pointed out that the decriminalization of defamation was crucial for aligning national laws with international standards and for journalists to carry out their work effectively. 46. With regard to specific measures taken to combat impunity for crimes against journalists, the representative of Mexico stated that a special prosecutor’s office had been established for crimes against the freedom of expression. The representative of Colombia stated that a subunit had been established in the Office of the Attorney General for the investigation of crimes against journalists. According to the representative of Brazil, the Government intended to implement the recommendations made in the report issued in March 2013 by the National Human Rights Council working group on the human rights of media professionals, including with regard to the establishment, in partnership with the United Nations, of an observatory on violence against media professionals, managed by a tripartite steering committee composed of civil society members, relevant government entities and the United Nations system. The observatory would register cases of violence against media workers, and include a system to monitor the resolution of such cases and a system of protection. The representative of Pakistan stated that high-powered commissions had been set up in the country to investigate allegations of intimidation and harassment. A steering committee of stakeholders had also been established to implement the United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity in the country. As part of its planned reforms, Morocco would create a coordination mechanism between the Ministry of Justice and the National Syndicate of the Moroccan Press, which would be in charge of investigating attacks and cases of restrictions of which journalists are victim. The representative of Montenegro stated that some police officials had been dismissed owing to ineffective investigations of violence against journalists and media outlets. 47. Some delegations also referred to specific protection mechanisms that their countries had set up. The representative of Mexico referred to the national protection mechanism for human rights defenders and journalists, capable of taking specific measures related to prevention, protection and urgent protection. The representative of Colombia stated that a national protection unit for journalists had been established. Italy reported that its Ministry of the Interior had established a central bureau for personal security that was tasked with the protection of journalists and their relatives exposed to danger or threat, potential or actual. It was also noted by delegations that, for protection policies and mechanisms to be effective, they must have the trust, capacity, resources and commitment of the authorities, and be responsive to local needs and challenges. 48. Several delegations also listed their advocacy and awareness-raising initiatives. The representative of the United States of America stated that the Government had raised issues relating to the freedom of the media in its dealings with Governments at all levels, advocated for the release of imprisoned journalists and called for justice when media professionals were killed with impunity. In the United States, an annual press freedom campaign was conducted to coincide with World Press Freedom Day to highlight particular cases of imprisoned journalists. Direct assistance and training was provided to journalists in challenging places, and independent media in closed societies around the world were supported. In 2013, Austria, Poland and Switzerland had organized an international 13