Part I International laws and mechanisms Some of the important issues addressed through reports prepared by the Special Rapporteur include: • irregular migration and criminalization of migrants (A/HRC/17/33 in 2011) • the situation of women migrant workers and violence against them (E/CN.4/2002/94 in 2002 and E/CN.4/2005/85 in 2005) • protection of children in the migration process (A/HRC/17/33 in 2011 and A/HRC/11/7 in 2009) • enjoyment of the right to health and adequate housing by migrants (A/HRC/17/33 and A/HRC/14/30 in 2011) • racism and discrimination against migrants (E/CN.4/2005/85 in 2005) • the human rights of migrant domestic workers (E/CN.4/2004/76 in 2004) • the deprivation of liberty in the context of migration management (E/CN.4/2003/85 in 2003).83 4.1.3. Country visits One of the most important functions of the special procedures is to conduct country visits (also known as a fact-finding visit). A country visit cannot be carried out without the approval of the particular State. However, “the Special Rapporteur may solicit an invitation, based on factors such as the number, credibility and gravity of the allegations received, and the potential impact that the mission may have on the overall human rights situation”.84 During the fact-finding visit, the Special Rapporteur will have contact with a wide range of stakeholders, such as Government officials, NHRIs, NGOs and other civil society organizations. The report of the country visit includes conclusions on the country situation and makes recommendations to the Government. Between 2000 and the end of 2011, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants undertook 22 country visits, including visits to the Asia Pacific countries of the Philippines (2002), Indonesia (2006), South Korea (2006) and Japan (2010). 4.2. Other special procedures relevant to the rights of migrants In addition to the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, there are a number of other special procedures with mandates particularly relevant to the protection of the rights of migrants and migrant workers. They include, among others, the: • Working Group on Arbitrary Detention • Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially in women and children • Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance • Independent Expert on minority issues • Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences • Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment • Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association • Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief • Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context 83 “Annual Reports”; OHCHR; see: www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Migration/SRMigrants/Pages/AnnualReports.aspx. 84 “Country Visits”; OHCHR; see: www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Migration/SRMigrants/Pages/CountryVisits.aspx. Chapter 3: Other UN instruments and mechanisms relevant to the rights of migrant workers | 35