A/HRC/26/37 involvement of victims is critical to ensuring that the measures taken to address trafficking benefit those in need; that unintended harmful consequences are anticipated and avoided; and that opportunities for change and improvement are identified in a timely way. 28. Thematic studies and reports. Thematic studies have been a major focus of the work of the Special Rapporteur, enabling the mandate to make substantial and (according to the responses to the questionnaire) highly appreciated contributions to poorly understood or new areas of concern. The topics for study have been carefully chosen on the basis of their relative importance and urgency, as well as the capacity of the Special Rapporteur to make a contribution to shaping international standards and promoting awareness in the chosen area. Issues covered in this way have included measures to discourage demand (2006 and 2013); trafficking for forced marriage (2007); victim identification, protection and assistance (2009); regional and subregional cooperation in promoting a human rights-based approach to trafficking (2010); prevention of trafficking (2010); the right to an effective remedy for trafficked persons (2011); the administration of criminal justice in the cases of trafficked persons (2012); trafficking in supply chains (2012); and trafficking in persons for the removal of organs (2013). In accordance with the mandate issued by the Human Rights Council, particular emphasis has been placed on developing practical solutions to the issues under consideration. 29. Country visits and reports. Country visits help to ground the mandate holders’ understanding of the problem of trafficking in national realities and forging relationships with those on the front line, while also providing involved States and their partners with an opportunity to access information, expertise and insight. Respondents to the questionnaire, including several States, noted that official missions had influenced shifts in policy and practice around trafficking, for example leading to changes in migration policies, amendments to the national trafficking law and improved cooperation with civil society organizations. Several international organizations noted that the official missions had provided valuable opportunities for stakeholders to convey their views and insights to the higher levels of Government and that the reports were an excellent source of useful, highquality information. 30. During those visits, the focus was on the nature of the trafficking problem, the key human rights issues and the effectiveness of institutional, legal, judicial, administrative and other mechanisms to protect those rights. In her country visits, the Special Rapporteur has taken care to ensure that they are widely consultative, involving government officials (including practitioners); victim support agencies and, where appropriate, victims; members of the judiciary and parliamentarians; United Nations country offices; and international and non-governmental organizations in the country concerned, as well as local civil society organizations. A detailed report is subsequently issued. The reports have evolved to follow a format that tracks the major issues of concern to the mandate: forms and manifestations of trafficking; the legislative and institutional framework; identification of trafficked persons; protection of trafficked persons; prosecution of perpetrators; cooperation with civil society; and international and regional cooperation. In the decade since the mandate was created, 21 official country visits have been undertaken. The first mandate holder carried out five visits: to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Lebanon in 2005 and to Bahrain, Oman and Qatar in 2006. The current mandate holder has undertaken 16 visits: to Belarus, Poland and Japan in 2009; to Egypt, Argentina and Uruguay in 2010; to Thailand and Australia in 2011; to the United Arab Emirates, Gabon and the Philippines in 2012; to Morocco, Italy, Bahamas and Belize in 2013; and Seychelles in 2014. 31. Recommendations and checklists. The Special Rapporteur has actively sought to promote normative clarity around trafficking and help flesh out the substantive content of key rules and obligations where that is required. This work has been firmly based on existing international standards, as recognized in the major human rights treaties and the 8