A/HRC/54/30 employment, persons experiencing homelessness are predominantly represented in the informal economy.74 While not all forms of informal work are exploitative, indicators of forced labour and exploitation are often evident in various informal sectors, as many of them are poorly regulated by States. 75 It is clear that the provision of stable and long-term employment opportunities in the formal economy to persons experiencing homelessness is needed. 46. Limited access to public services and decent work is often the result of a lack of participation by persons experiencing homelessness in decision-making processes. This may lead to the promotion of one-size-fits-all approaches, which do not take individual needs and circumstances into consideration. It is inappropriate, for example, to place all children in street situations into foster care and other similar arrangements, if doing so exacerbates their vulnerabilities to contemporary forms of slavery. In this regard, according to recent research conducted in over 30 European States, a large number of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex youth in situations of homelessness felt that tailored policies and support for them were very weak or non-existent.76 Listening to the experiences and concerns of persons in situations of homelessness is essential in devising appropriate short-, medium- and long-term solutions that are suitable and acceptable to them. 47. The criminalization of conduct associated with homelessness, such as sleeping in public and loitering, is another manifestation of discrimination against persons experiencing homelessness, including children in street situations, by law enforcement authorities in various parts of the world. Many face penalties, such as fines or even incarceration, as a result.77 In Malaysia, for example, the Destitute Persons Act reportedly has been used to detain persons experiencing homelessness without trial. 78 Those who are forced to commit offences, such as drug trafficking and theft, also face the full force of the law. Intersecting forms of discrimination are also evident, as it has been suggested that criminalization more frequently affects ethnic minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people.79 The possession of criminal records by persons experiencing homelessness inevitably makes it much harder to promote their social and economic integration. 48. Moreover, a lack of sufficient knowledge on the linkage between homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery among private and public service providers poses another challenge. This stems from a lack of reliable data or information on the subject matter. Without a full understanding of the particular vulnerabilities and victimization surrounding persons experiencing homelessness, including children in street situations, States and nongovernmental actors are not able to develop and implement appropriate and effective strategies, including tailored assistance, which sufficiently reflects gender and other dimensions. There is therefore an urgent need to enhance the knowledge base through research, awareness-raising and training among the relevant stakeholders in both the homelessness and anti-slavery sectors. VIII. Initiatives to tackle homelessness and contemporary forms of slavery 49. The Special Rapporteur wishes to acknowledge that a wide variety of initiatives have been adopted by States and private actors, which can address the ongoing challenges of preventing persons experiencing homelessness from being victimized in contemporary forms of slavery. The provision of emergency or temporary accommodations as immediate 74 75 76 77 78 79 GE.23-12640 E/CN.5/2020/3, para. 11. See A/77/163. J. Shelton, et al., “Perceptions: addressing LGBTI youth homelessness in Europe and Central Asia, findings from a survey of LGBTI organisations”, ILGA-Europe, True Colors United and Silberman Center for Sexuality and Gender at Hunter College (2021). A/HRC/48/55, para. 25; A/HRC/41/33, para. 52; and submissions from Egna Legna Besidet and Freedom Network USA. A/HRC/44/40/Add.1, para. 50. Submissions from A Way Home America, Aiden Anthony, the National Homelessness Law Center, True Colors United and Freedom Network USA. 11