A/HRC/45/8 poverty, the unprecedented unemployment rates and deepening inequalities and the vulnerability to exploitation and abuse. It is of utmost importance that States put in place adequate measures now to mitigate the increasing risks of contemporary forms of slavery in the longer term. 88. The full impact of COVID-19 has yet to be assessed, in the coming months and years. To that end, there is an urgent need for more evidence-based and victimcentred research, data collection and analysis. The Special Rapporteur will continue to examine and report on the impact of COVID-19 on contemporary forms of slavery with a view to articulating relevant human rights norms and principles and further developing recommendations on necessary measures, informed by the voices of survivors. B. 1. Recommendations Access to justice and remedies 89. States must urgently intensify their efforts to prevent all forms of slavery and identify and protect the victims, including through the development of national action plans. Furthermore, in spite of limited resources, they must continue to investigate, prosecute and punish those responsible for contemporary forms of slavery during the COVID-19 pandemic. 90. Individuals subjected to contemporary forms of slavery must be provided with equal and effective access to justice and remedies. This includes concrete legal, medical and social assistance and protection measures tailored to address the specific needs of the survivors, with due consideration given to their vulnerabilities and precariousness and without discrimination, including based on immigration status. 91. Given the high risk of infection with COVID-19, all individuals identified as survivors of contemporary forms of slavery should be granted priority access to testing for the disease, and free medical treatment if they are infected. 92. States should also enhance financial investigations and criminal asset recovery as part of the law enforcement responses to contemporary forms of slavery in order to facilitate sufficient access to justice and remedies. 2. Increased support for civil society organizations and government service providers 93. Civil society organizations and first respondents employed within government agencies must be provided with the adequate support and resources to adapt to the quickly shifting operational challenges caused by the pandemic and to respond to the increasing needs of the victims. 94. At the global level, States are strongly urged to continue providing support to anti-slavery initiatives focused on tackling the root causes of these crimes and offering comprehensive assistance to the victims, including by supporting the United Nations voluntary trust fund on contemporary forms of slavery. 3. Wider measures to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 95. States should provide those at risk of contemporary forms of slavery with tailored support to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, such as income support, debt relief, tax credits and wider social security benefits. 96. That support must be provided to all workers who have been unemployed as a result of lockdown measures, without discrimination. Particular attention must be paid to specific groups who are at risk, including women, migrant workers, indigenous peoples, minority groups, refugees and asylum seekers, internally displaced or stateless persons, older workers, workers with disabilities, persons working in the informal economy, self-employed persons, and seasonal and temporary workers. 19