CAT/C/75 page 50 230. As part of these efforts, the Government of Mexico is attaching the greatest importance to action to combat torture. One of the main concerns is to consolidate respect for human rights and, within the institutional framework, to punish violations of human rights and abuses of power by formulating policies relating to the responsibility of government officials. 231. During the negotiations on the first phase of the Technical Cooperation Programme between the Government of Mexico and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the conclusion was reached that the main topic to be included was the human rights training of government officials and that two model protocols should be drafted. 232. During that first phase, there were two components on the question of torture, one relating to medical examinations of torture and other physical abuse and the other to the forensic investigation of murders alleged to have taken place as a result of human rights violations. 233. During the second phase of the Programme, priority was given to refresher courses for those who had taken part in the first phase, and to training courses for judges and lawyers. 234. The Government of Mexico also considers that the Committee’s report and recommendations will be very useful in producing the diagnosis of the human rights situation and the National Human Rights Programme to be implemented during the second phase of the Technical Cooperation Programme, one of the main topics of which is action to combat torture. 235. The Government of Mexico wishes to draw attention to the amendment to article 113 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States adopted on 14 June 2002, which makes the State directly responsible for any loss or damage to the property or rights of private individuals resulting from unlawful government administrative activity. Private individuals will be entitled to compensation in accordance with the guidelines, limits and procedures provided for by law. 236. This article will enter into force on 1 January 2004. According to the amendment decree published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on 14 June 2002, secondary legislation will have to be changed as a result of the amendment. The Federation and the States and municipalities will thus have to draft or amend their legislation relating to compensation for loss or damage during this period. 237. The present report clarifies some points in the Committee’s report and provides up-to-date information on the action being taken to combat torture and implement the recommendations. In view of the undertaking by the Government of Mexico to send updated information on the 394 cases referred to in paragraph 13 of the report, annex III contains records with information from the States dealing with some of the cases. II. GENERAL COMMENTS 238. The report is very detailed, especially as far as the consideration of individual cases is concerned. In this connection, the Government of Mexico draws the Committee’s attention to the practical and technical problems countries face in determining whether a case of alleged torture exists. However, Mexico is entirely willing to hear and clarify the cases of alleged torture referred to in the Committee’s report.