E/CN.4/1997/71 page 16 Immigration, Naturalization and Consular Protection Service. Respect for migrants' human rights is a key item on these bodies' agendas. “On the reform of the legal framework governing immigration in the United States, which is due to be approved by the United States Congress, the Mexican Government repeated to its counterpart that it was necessary to ensure that the legislation did not infringe the dignity and human rights of Mexican migrants and, in particular, that it must not call for action that might prompt or result in discriminatory attitudes. “Under bilateral cooperation on migration, Mexican Government officials have helped to give training courses to those responsible for training United States immigration officials and Border Patrol officers, seeking to acquaint them with the culture and history of Mexico and with the work being done by Mexican consulates in the United States to protect migrants. “Considering that bilateral migration is the result of structural causes, notably the differences in levels of economic development between Mexico and the United States and the interdependence of the labour markets in the two countries, the Mexican Government has pressed for the adoption of a comprehensive approach to the phenomenon which takes balanced account of the interests and concerns of both nations. To this end, by agreement between the two Governments, governmental and academic experts from both countries have begun to formulate a binational study on migration, the central purpose of which is to provide an objective, comprehensive and long-term analysis of migration to be used in designing and enforcing more effective policies that address the real causes and effects of migration. You will be kept duly informed. On a different note, Mexican consulates in the United States particularly those in the border region - have been allocated additional staff, training and funds. Bringing before the United States authorities - and following up on - applications concerning abuse of authority or violations of Mexican nationals' human rights is a matter to which our consulates give priority. With a view to the efficient coordination of our consulates' protective functions, a Directorate for Protection and Consular Affairs was created in 1995 as part of the Office of the Secretary of State for Foreign Relations. “The Mexican Government recently set up the Beta Sur group, which fulfils the same functions on the southern border as the immigrant protection groups do on the northern border. “In furtherance of its commitment to safeguard migrants' rights, the Mexican Government distributes an information kit indicating what rights are enjoyed by all migrants within Mexico irrespective of their migrant status. It has also set up a training programme to inform and make migrants aware of public servants' legal obligations to respect migrants' rights.