A/HRC/13/38 25. According to the ILO, 80 per cent of the global population had less than adequate social protection coverage even before the crisis.17 The need to establish or strengthen a social protection floor has been emphasized in the CEB joint initiatives, including the Global Jobs Pact adopted by the International Labour Conference, as well as in the Ministerial Declaration of the Economic and Social Council. Several special procedures mandate holders have been advocating that such initiatives should be grounded in national and international human rights frameworks so that they effectively contribute to the protection of the human rights of the poor, the most vulnerable and those who are discriminated against. The importance of social security as a tool for the protection of the basic human rights of all persons was also highlighted at the second meeting of the Social Forum of the Human Rights Council held from 31 August to 2 September 2009 in Geneva which brought together a wide range of stakeholders concerned with the negative impact of the economic and financial crisis on efforts to combat poverty. The Social Forum recommended, inter alia, that States need to take all necessary measures to provide social security coverage to all, particularly to the most vulnerable, and highlighted that civil society played an important role in raising awareness and advocating more inclusive social security systems. 26. Recognizing that migrants are among the most vulnerable in the context of the crisis, the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis highlighted the need to resist unfair and discriminatory treatment of migrant workers and the imposition of unreasonable restrictions on labour migration in order to maximize the benefits of international migration, while complying with the relevant national legislation and applicable international instruments. Efforts to raise awareness of the human rights of migrants and their positive contribution to development both in host countries and their countries of origin are important elements of such efforts. Anti-migrant sentiments and discriminatory practices are not only a human rights concern but also obstacles to the inclusion, acceptance and integration of migrants in host countries. Conversely, human rights-based regulations and policies which promote access to decent work, health care, education and adequate housing are important not only for the protection of the human rights of migrants, but also for their social inclusion and integration. In addition, regular labour migration channels should remain open with a view to meeting a continuing demand for migrant workers, thus helping to prevent irregular migration and trafficking and to reduce the vulnerability of migrants to exploitative employment outside the regular labour market. B. International cooperation 27. While national initiatives were at the core of the measures taken to address the crisis, international cooperation was also required in view of the global nature of the crisis. At the Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis in June 2009, world leaders pledged their commitment to continue to work in solidarity on a vigorous, coordinated and comprehensive global response to the crisis, in accordance with their respective abilities and responsibilities (see paragraph 18 above). 28. At the 2009 Social Forum, participants recalled that international assistance and cooperation is enshrined in, inter alia, article 2 (1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and that there is a duty to assist countries that do not have the domestic resources to achieve progressively the full realization of the rights recognized in the Covenant. It was reaffirmed that human rights principles and obligations 17 GE.10-10930 ILO, Social Security Department, “Can low-income countries afford basic social security?” Social Security Policy Briefings, Paper 3, 2008. 11