CAT/OP/MEX/1/Add.2 68. The ruling includes an amendment to article 73 of the Constitution in order to empower the Congress of the Union to enact laws on the provision of support to victims and the protection of their rights with a view to developing uniform standards in this regard and also coordination between the authorities. 7. Social Support Agency for Victims of Crime 69. On 6 September 2011 the decree establishing the Social Support Agency for Victims of Crime as a decentralized body of the federal public administration was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation. 70. The purposes of the Agency are to provide timely and comprehensive support to victims of crime, either directly or in coordination with specialized institutions, in accordance with the applicable regulations, to contribute to the effective performance of the functions of the authorities responsible for such matters, and to formulate and execute policies, programmes and schemes of inter-institutional cooperation and coordination for the provision of support to victims of crime. 71. Article 3 of the decree establishing the Agency sets out the following duties: • Assisting victims of crime through counselling and the provision, either directly or in coordination with specialized institutions, of multidisciplinary and specialist services required by them in order to offer timely, appropriate and comprehensive support; • Providing, either directly or in coordination with competent specialized institutions, support services to victims of crime, including: • Medical care; • Specialized psychological care; • Legal advice and guidance; and • Assistance in the search for missing persons; • Checking the conduct of specialized institutions to ensure the provision of timely and appropriate support to victims of crime and taking relevant follow-up measures; • In the case of crimes under state (non-federal) jurisdiction, offering guidance to victims of crime and, where appropriate, referring them to the competent state or municipal bodies; • Setting up units or centres across the national territory for the effective provision of support to victims of crime; • Providing cost-free legal defence to victims of crime in accordance with the conditions and standards to be adopted by the governing board, applicable rules and budget estimates approved for that purpose; • Planning, programming, coordinating and overseeing support services for victims of crime, either directly or in coordination with competent specialized institutions; • Facilitating access by victims of crime to financial assistance or support from competent authorities as provided for under the programmes, including funeral expenses, grants, compensatory payments and medical insurance, or, where appropriate, furnishing such assistance or support directly to victims of federal crimes; • Coordinating and concluding cooperation agreements with public or private institutions for the provision of support to victims of crime; GE.13-41196 (EXT) 29