A/HRC/25/7 the National Ombudsman; and, at the local level, strengthened the autonomy of the commissions for the protection of human rights. 8. Also important was the constitutional reform of the amparo trial (habeas corpus). Following the reform, the amparo trial could proceed in cases of acts or omissions by authorities that infringed human rights set out in international treaties. 9. A national human rights programme was being developed jointly with civil society. It would include the recommendations of national and international human rights mechanisms and organizations, as well as indicators and targets to measure progress. 10. The delegation noted that since 2012, Mexican authorities had outlined a new security and law enforcement policy which sought to comprehensively address the causes of insecurity. 11. In 2013, the General Victims’ Act was adopted, with a view to providing assistance, protection, attention and comprehensive reparation to victims of violence and of human rights violations and to restituting their rights. 12. In addition, a law on regulating the use of public force was being developed with the support of the International Committee of the Red Cross. 13. Referring to military justice, the delegation indicated that Mexico had recognized that under no circumstances should cases involving violations of the rights of civilian persons fall under military jurisdiction. 14. With regard to the protection of journalists and human rights defenders, Mexico recognized the important contribution of those actors and observed full respect for the right to freedom of expression. In accordance with a constitutional amendment, federal authorities were empowered to investigate crimes involving violations of freedom of expression committed against journalists, or other persons or facilities, and the office of the special prosecutor for such crimes had been established. In addition, the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists had been created. 15. Among the legislative reforms that the President had sent to Congress was an initiative to amend the Federal Criminal Code with a view to harmonizing the definition of the crime of enforced disappearance with international standards. Moreover, the withdrawal of the reservation to the Inter-American Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons had been proposed. 16. In 2011, the Missing or Disappeared Persons Registry Act had been approved, establishing the obligation of the federal Government to develop a registry of disappeared individuals. Efforts were also being made to locate missing persons through local law enforcement offices, in coordination with the Missing Persons Search Unit of the federal Attorney General’s Office. 17. In the area of gender equality, Mexico had developed the 2013–2018 National Programme for Equality of Opportunities and Non-Discrimination against Women. Additionally, an initiative to reform the electoral legislation to guarantee parity between men and women had been sent to both chambers of Congress. 18. Mexico underscored the action taken to prevent violations of the rights of migrants, considering its situation as a country of origin, transit, destination and return. 19. Mexico had reached agreements to transform itself into a country that was more just, where all citizens — without exception — enjoyed the same rights. Congress and the Supreme Court had both played an important role in the fulfilment of the State’s international human rights obligations. 4