59. States parties should eliminate discriminatory policies and practices that deny or restrict the rights of children of migrant domestic workers, notably their right to health and education (articles 28 and 30). Gender perspective 60. As noted by the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the position of female migrants is different from that of male migrants with regard to, inter alia, the migration channels used, the sectors of the labour market where they are employed, the forms of abuse they suffer and the consequences and impact thereof.10 Recognizing that most domestic workers are women and girls and taking into consideration traditional roles, the gendered labour market, the universal prevalence of gender-based violence and the worldwide feminization of poverty and labour migration, States should incorporate a gender perspective in efforts to understand their specific problems and develop remedies to the gender-based discrimination that they face throughout the migration process. 61. States parties should repeal sex-specific bans and discriminatory restrictions on women’s migration on the basis of age, marital status, pregnancy or maternity status (articles 1 and 7), including restrictions that require women to get permission from their spouse or male guardian to obtain a passport or to travel (article 8) or bans on women migrant domestic workers marrying nationals or permanent residents (article 14), or securing independent housing. States parties should also repeal discriminatory laws, regulations and practices related to HIV, including those which result in the loss of work visas based on HIV status, and ensure that medical testing of migrant domestic workers, including tests for pregnancy or HIV, is only done voluntarily and subject to informed consent. Embassies and consulates 62. While the States of employment have the primary responsibility to protect the rights of migrant domestic workers, embassies and consulates of States of origin should play an active role in protecting the rights of their nationals employed as migrant domestic workers. In particular, embassies and consulates of countries of origin that are present in countries where migrant domestic workers are employed are encouraged, in coordination with the authorities in the countries of employment, to: (a) Ensure adequately trained staff and mechanisms (including telephone hotlines) to receive and address complaints made by migrant domestic workers, including through the provision of legal aid; (b) Provide counselling and facilitate appropriate shelter for migrant domestic workers, especially women and children, fleeing from abusive employment circumstances; (c) Expedite the processing of temporary travel documents and return tickets to avoid migrant domestic workers in distress being trapped in shelters for lengthy periods of time; (d) Receive, record and report information that can be useful to migrant domestic workers in the country of employment as well as to prospective migrant workers back home regarding: (i) Actual country and employment conditions; (ii) The experience of migrant domestic workers, including travel and arrival, migration-related fees and debt, the effects on family, workplace conflicts, issues of rights and access to justice. 63. Embassies and consulates of countries of origin are encouraged to cooperate with each other to identify abusive recruitment agencies and to promote appropriate protection policies for migrant domestic workers. 10 Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, general recommendation No. 26 (2008) on women migrant workers, para. 5. 56