A/HRC/31/55 measurement of more than 100 different commitments, efforts and outcomes within the city. National, regional and international networks of human rights cities serve as a good practice to build the capacity of local government and local defenders in smaller towns. B. Developing and strengthening legislation, policies and practices for protecting defenders 1. National legislation and policy 91. A number of States have recently introduced legislation that provides a framework for the protection and promotion of the work of human rights defenders. National legislation can lead to a stable and coherent protection framework. Some States (Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guatemala, Honduras, Mali, Mexico, the Philippines and Sierra Leone) have recently introduced or are considering legislation or decrees to protect defenders. In some cases, this legislation has come about through collaboration between civil society and the Government. An international network of defenders and civil society organizations are also developing a “model law” for the protection of defenders.22 Legislation at the central, provincial and city levels may also be useful where these levels of government have responsibility for defenders. 92. Besides national legislation, some States have developed national policies concerning defenders, usually concentrating on the role of their diplomatic representatives abroad in supporting the work of defenders. These policies serve to refocus diplomatic attention on the most vulnerable groups in a society and the defenders who promote their rights. Other States have chosen to integrate their policies on defenders into their more general periodic national plans of action on human rights. While general statements recognizing the importance of defenders are useful, plans of action should contain concrete commitments to achieve specific targets (for example, to train police officers about the rights of defenders). In other States, the challenges of implementing these laws and policies are addressed by strengthening accountability by establishing a regular review process or appointing a minister responsible for human rights or an ombudsman to monitor its implementation and to receive complaints. 2. National protective mechanisms 93. Several States (such as Brazil, Colombia and Mexico) have established protective mechanisms to respond to the specific situation of defenders. These mechanisms are often developed at the instigation of and in consultation with defenders, to overcome the challenge of lack of clarity with regard to the government institution responsible for their protection. Such mechanisms offer a centralized institution to monitor and report on the situation of defenders and coordinate the response of the State to threats. In addition, they can make recommendations to reform laws and policies that conflict with the rights of defenders or place them at risk. In some cases, the laws creating the mechanisms also require broader action by other State entities in order to mitigate risks (for example, public statements by senior officials in support of defenders). 3. Other State institutions 94. As independent State entities, national human rights institutions have an important role to play in the protection of defenders (see A/HRC/22/47). They support the creation of 22 International Service for Human Rights, “Developing a model national law to protect human rights defenders”, 20 November 2013. 17