CRC/C/15/Add.112 page 5 both at the federal and state levels, to raise and equalize the minimum legal ages for marriage of boys and girls. D.3 General principles 17. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the State party about the national public referendum regarding the rights of the child and takes note of the process of constitutional reform generated by this referendum; both initiatives are in line with the Committees recommendation (CRC/C/15/Add.13, paras. 15 and 16). In this regard, the Committee encourages the State party to continue these initiatives with the aim of introducing into the Constitution the principles of non-discrimination and the best interests of the child (arts. 2 and 3 of the Convention). 18. While the Committee acknowledges the State party’s measures to implement the Committee’s recommendation (CRC/C/15/Add.13, para. 18) concerning the protection of the rights of the most vulnerable groups of children, in particular the measures carried out by PROGRESA, DIF, the National Indigenous Institute (INI) and CONMUJER, the Committee is of the opinion that these measures need to be reinforced. The Committee reiterates its recommendation and further recommends that the State party increase measures to reduce economic and social disparities, including between urban and rural areas, to prevent discrimination against the most disadvantaged groups of children, such as girls, children with disabilities, children belonging to indigenous and ethnic groups, children living and/or working on the streets and children living in rural areas. 19. The Committee takes note of the efforts made in the field of legislative reform to integrate the principles of “best interests of the child” (art. 3) and “respect for the views of the child” (art. 12) into domestic legislation, at both state and federal levels. Nevertheless, the Committee remains concerned that these principles are not fully implemented. The Committee recommends that further efforts be made to ensure the implementation of the principles of “best interests of the child” and “respect for the views of the child”, especially his or her rights to participate in the family, at school and in other social institutions. These principles should also be reflected in all policies and programmes relating to children. Awareness raising among the public at large, including community leaders, and educational programmes on the implementation of these principles should be reinforced in order to change traditional perceptions of children who are too often regarded as the objects (Doctrina de la Situación Irregular) rather than the subjects of rights. 20. In the light of article 6 and other related provisions of the Convention, the Committee expresses its concern about the threat to the right to life of children caused by the degree of militarization in the State party and the confrontations with “irregular armed civilian groups” in parts of the State party’s territory, especially in the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero and Veracruz. The Committee recommends that the State party take effective measures to protect children against the negative effects of these confrontations. The establishment of rehabilitation measures for child victims of these confrontations is also recommended. D.4. Civil rights and freedoms