A/HRC/RES/44/4 cases of trafficking and forced and child labour in their operations, including their supply chains, to ensure that cases are referred to the proper services, and to provide redress to workers in exploitative situations, Bearing also in mind that all States have an obligation to exercise due diligence to prevent trafficking in persons, to investigate instances of trafficking and punish perpetrators, to support and empower victims and to provide for their protection and access to remedies, and that not doing so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of victims, Welcoming the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on improving accountability and access to remedy for victims of business-related human rights abuse, Convinced of the need to protect and assist all victims of trafficking, with full respect for the human rights and dignity of the victims, Concerned by the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and that victims of trafficking and groups vulnerable to the risks of trafficking, especially women and children, are in a particularly vulnerable situation with regard to health crises, as shown by the pandemic, owing to, inter alia, a heightened risk of lack of access to health care and services, food security, water and sanitation services and information, and a greater risk of economic insecurity, unemployment, often difficult adequate housing and living conditions, of increasing violence and abuses, including domestic violence, and of an environment conducive to child sexual abuse, including online, Recognizing the importance of the work of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children, in the prevention of trafficking in persons and the promotion of the global fight against trafficking in persons and in promoting awareness of and upholding the human rights of victims of trafficking, 1. Urges States to respect, protect and promote the human rights of victims of trafficking through enhanced protection and empowerment of and support and assistance for victims of trafficking in persons, especially women and children, by: (a) Providing protection and effective and adequate gender-responsive and multidisciplinary assistance to victims of trafficking and considering also their direct dependants, on the basis of the specific needs of those persons, including child-appropriate measures, which must not be made conditional on their cooperation with law enforcement authorities; (b) Considering enhancing early identification of potential victims of trafficking upon the identification of vulnerabilities, for example by establishing procedures in places of first arrival of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers for the identification of indicators of migrants’ vulnerability, including to trafficking and exploitation, and providing early support and assistance also to persons at risk of being trafficked; (c) Fully recognizing victims’ rights and implementing the non-punishment principle, in accordance with respective national legal systems, by taking all appropriate measures, including through policies and legislation, to ensure that victims of trafficking are protected from prosecution or punishment for acts that they have been compelled to commit as a direct consequence of having been trafficked, and that victims do not suffer from revictimization as a result of actions taken by government authorities; (d) Considering developing, in cooperation with civil society, businesses and relevant stakeholders, long-term inclusion strategies based on innovative skill-acquisition schemes to empower victims of trafficking and facilitate their access to the labour market, in line with domestic legal frameworks; (e) Combating racism, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, which increases the vulnerability of persons affected by trafficking; (f) Promoting gender-responsive measures to combat and eliminate all forms of trafficking in women and children, including for sexual and economic exploitation, and taking into account the specific needs of women and girls and their participation in and 3