A/HRC/17/24 61. The Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants devoted his annual report to the Human Rights Council to the question of the enjoyment of the rights to the highest standards of health and adequate housing by migrants. The report aimed to inform and assist Governments and interested parties in their efforts to effectively address these matters so as to ensure the enjoyment of these rights for migrants. He recalled the applicable international legal framework and discussed the main challenges encountered by migrants in the enjoyment of these rights, with particular attention to the situations of migrant women, girls and children. The Special Rapporteur also highlighted a number of good practices, and made a number of recommendations. V. Conclusions and recommendations 62. The present overview indicates that the international community is increasingly aware of the importance of economic, social and cultural rights as demonstrated, inter alia, by recent resolutions on the rights to water and sanitation, and the call for greater inclusion of human rights in the MDGs in the outcome document of the General Assembly High-level Plenary Meeting on MDGs. 63. Yet, 2010 ended tragically in North Africa particularly, where a series of self– immolations underscored the desperation and frustration felt by many worldwide at the denial of their economic, social and cultural rights, and associated freedoms. These actions and the accompanying social protests clearly point to the indivisibility and interdependence of civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights. They highlight that freedom of expression, independent civil society organizations, the right to participate in decision-making, accountability, and the fight against corruption are essential for all human rights. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that States implement a number of actions, including the following: 64. States should address violations of human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights, in particular violations linked to State obligations of immediate effect, including discrimination in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, and attacks on human rights defenders. 65. States should take immediate and concrete steps to establish legal and policy frameworks towards the full realization of economic, social and cultural rights, with clear allocation of responsibilities, time-bound benchmarks and indicators to measure progress, and the provision of maximum available resources to implement such laws, policies and strategies. 66. States should end inequality in access to remedies, and strengthen the legal protection of economic, social and cultural rights by, inter alia, legally recognizing these rights, making economic, social and cultural rights effectively justiciable, building the capacity of the judiciary and other institutions, establishing various mechanisms to deal with grievances relating to economic, social and cultural rights, and swiftly ratifying the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; 67. States should ensure consultation and participation of right-holders in designing, adopting, implementing, monitoring and evaluating laws and policies relevant to the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights, including through guaranteeing free participation in public debate and decision-making processes. 16