A/66/264 migration and the labour needs of host countries and their detrimental consequences for migrant populations as a whole and host societies at large. To assist States in implementing human rights-based migration policies, the Special Rapporteur offered practical recommendations for reforming regional and bilateral cooperation mechanisms and agreements and provided good examples and alternatives to the criminalization of irregular migration. 19. Recalling the obligation of States to protect the rights of the child at all stages of the migration process, the Special Rapporteur considered the specific protection needs and vulnerability of children in the migration process. 5 He identified three categories of children affected by migration: children “left behind”, children “on the move”, and migrant children in host countries. While noting that the impact of migration on children left behind by adult migrants responsible for them is difficult to measure, the Special Rapporteur stressed the necessity of promoting family unity and reunion with family members in host countries. Children moving across borders migrate with family members or independently, often for education or employment opportunities, but also forcibly, when falling victim to organized crime networks. These children, in particular when unaccompanied or undocumented, need specific protection against sexual violence, deportation and repatriation, unlawful and arbitrary deprivation of liberty. With respect to children in host countries, the Special Rapporteur indicated two areas where enhanced efforts by States are needed: protection from transnational organized crime and ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights by children of a migrant background. Major challenges in the protection of children during migration include the lack of child-specific provisions, and the lack of distinction between adult and child migrants, in national migration laws and policies and the particular vulnerabilities of the girl child and children in irregular migration. To assist States in addressing these and other pertinent issues, the Special Rapporteur presented a number of recommendations for further consideration and action. 20. The Special Rapporteur’s third focus concerned the realization of the rights to health and adequate housing in the light of the growing trend in many host countries to adopt immigration policies and measures which significantly hamper the enjoyment of those rights. 6 He expressed concern at the general lack of comprehensive policies and measures aimed at protecting the rights of migrants to health and adequate housing and noted that the absence of necessary support, such as language training and information about laws and regulations, further obstructed the enjoyment of these rights. In relation to the right to health, the Special Rapporteur was concerned at the vulnerability of migrants to poor health due to their low socio-economic status. He observed that their entitlements and access to health care varied enormously. At one end of the spectrum, non-nationals were not able to access life-saving medication because facilities denied treatment on the basis of “being foreign” or not having a national identity document. The Special Rapporteur identified women domestic migrant workers as one of the most vulnerable groups of migrant workers and reported a widespread pattern of physical, sexual and psychological abuse among these women. Concerning the right to adequate housing, the Special Rapporteur noted “a disturbingly large gap” between international human rights standards and the situation prevailing in many parts of __________________ 5 6 11-44418 See A/HRC/11/17 and A/HRC/17/33. See A/HRC/14/30 and A/HRC/17/33. 7