A/HRC/24/43 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 15/2 by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences, Gulnara Shahinian. In chapter II, the Special Rapporteur summarizes her activities since her previous report to the Council, and in chapters III–VII she discusses and makes recommendations on combating contemporary forms of slavery. II. Activities of the mandate A. Visits to countries and follow-up activities 2. The Special Rapporteur conducted official country visits to Kazakhstan from 24 September to 1 October 2012 and to Madagascar from 10 to 20 December 2012 to engage in dialogue with the Governments about policies, programmes, plans and activities aimed at combating contemporary forms of slavery (see A/HRC/24/43/Add.1 and A/HRC/24/43/Add.2). She wishes to thank the Governments of Kazakhstan and Madagascar for acceding to her request for a visit. 3. The Special Rapporteur participated in two follow-up workshops focused on the recommendations that she made upon concluding her country visits. On 12 and 13 November 2012, she participated in a follow-up workshop in Brasilia, at which the participants produced an action plan for the implementation of her recommendations on forced and bonded labour in agriculture and textile industry. She also participated in a follow-up workshop in Lima on 15 and 16 November 2012, at which the participants focused on the status of implementation of her recommendations on contemporary forms of slavery in Lima. They developed time-bound action plans to follow up on forced and bonded labour, child slavery in mining and domestic servitude. 4. Both workshops were organized jointly by the relevant Governments and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The participants included relevant Government officials, and representatives of civil society organizations and United Nations agencies. The Special Rapporteur wishes to thank the Governments of Brazil and Peru for their continued cooperation and commitment to implementing the recommendations made in her reports (A/HRC/15/20/Add.4 and A/HRC/18/30/Add.2, respectively). 5. The Special Rapporteur would appreciate receiving invitations from the other countries to which she has sent requests to visit: Bangladesh, Ghana, Nepal, Niger, Sudan and Uzbekistan. B. Communications and other activities 6. The Special Rapporteur issued numerous press statements, either individually or jointly with other special procedure mandate holders. III. Challenges and lessons in combating contemporary forms of slavery 7. The closest figure for the number of individuals subjected to contemporary forms of 3