A/HRC/36/43 and independent authorities respond effectively to situations of contemporary forms of slavery and that perpetrators are investigated and prosecuted, and receive and serve sentences that are commensurate with the crime. Avenues for victims obtaining remedy and reparation should not be costly, complex or restrictive, and should offer victims of contemporary slavery redress for the damage they have suffered as a result of being subjected to such practices. VI. Conclusions and recommendations A. Conclusions 59. States have an obligation to respect, promote and fulfil the right to have access to justice by making available a system of effective remedies to persons subject to their jurisdiction. That entails the obligation of States to establish or strengthen where necessary judicial and administrative mechanisms to enable victims to obtain redress through legal procedures that are expeditious, fair, inexpensive and accessible. Reparations for victims should be timely, full and effective while respecting the principles of appropriateness and proportionality and must include restitution, compensation, rehabilitation, satisfaction and guarantees of non-repetition. States have a legal duty to prevent contemporary forms of slavery, investigate with special diligence, and to identify and prosecute those responsible and impose appropriate punishment. 60. Access to justice is essential for eradicating contemporary forms of slavery and protecting the human rights of victims. However, victims often encounter within justice systems a number of challenges and obstacles of a social, legal, institutional, procedural or practical nature that affect their capacity to gain access to justice and limit the remedies available to them. In some countries where contemporary forms of slavery exist, implementation of legislation that prohibits and punishes those practices remains poor owing to weak rule of law, corruption, discrimination and social exclusion and lack of capacity among law enforcement officials to investigate and prosecute perpetrators. A comprehensive victim-centred and human rights-based approach to ensure that persons subjected to contemporary forms of slavery have access to justice and remedy must have at its centre the compliance of States with their obligations under international law as well as full restitution of the rights of victims. Recommendations on the implementation of such an approach are detailed below. B. Recommendations to States Members of the United Nations 61. With respect to social and cultural barriers, the Special Rapporteur recommends that States: (a) Take all steps necessary to tackle the root causes and manifestations of discrimination against minority groups that are vulnerable to contemporary forms of slavery, including women, children, indigenous people, people of “low” caste status and migrant workers; (b) Ensure that minority groups are provided with decent work opportunities and full and productive employment, adequate social services and free and compulsory primary education; (c) Implement effective state programmes and policies to provide socioeconomic support to victims emerging from slavery; (d) Recognize the existence of discrimination and its direct link to the prevalence of contemporary forms of slavery and introduce appropriate measures to ensure that people belonging to minority groups have equal access to justice; 17

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