PART 2.3 psychological and social assistance through governmental, voluntary, community-based and indigenous means.”323 The major trafficking treaties lay down varying standards in relation to victim care and support. The Trafficking Protocol requires States parties to: consider implementing measures to provide for the physical, psychological and social recovery of victims ... in particular the provision of (a) appropriate housing; (b) counselling and information in particular as regards their legal rights in a language that the victims … can understand; (c) medical, psychological and material assistance; and (d) employment, education and training opportunities (art. 6 (3)). The Legislative Guide to the Protocol notes that these support measures are intended to reduce the suffering and harm caused to victims and to assist in their recovery and rehabilitation. It further notes that, while not obligatory, implementing these provisions can bring important practical benefits, for example by increasing the likelihood of victim cooperation in investigations and prosecutions, and preventing further harm such as re-victimization. While these requirements are not mandatory, States parties are required to consider implementing them and are “urged to do so to the greatest extent possible within resource and other constraints” (para. 62). The requirements of the European Trafficking Convention on the point of victim support and assistance are much stronger than those of the Protocol. They echo the priority placed on this matter by the Trafficking Principles and Guidelines. States parties to the European Trafficking Convention are required to provide all victims within their territory with a range of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, para. 14. measures designed to “assist victims in their physical, psychological and social recovery”. Such assistance is also to be extended to those who have been provisionally identified as victims and, crucially, cannot be reserved only for those agreeing to act as witnesses (arts. 10 (2) and 12 (6)). It is to include, at least, appropriate and secure accommodation, psychological support and material assistance at subsistence level; access to emergency medical treatment; translation and interpretation services; counselling and information; assistance with legal proceedings and, for children, access to education (art. 12 (1)). Additional provisions are made for victims lawfully within the territory of the State party (arts. 12 (3) and 12 (4)). The SAARC Convention calls on States parties to establish protective homes and shelters for the rehabilitation of victims, and to make provisions for legal advice, counselling and health care for victims (art. IX (3)). Regional soft law agreements and policy statements affirm the importance of ensuring that victims of trafficking are supported and assisted. In Europe, these include the EU Plan on Best Practices,324 the European Experts Group Opinion of October 2005,325 the European Experts Group Opinion of May 2004,326 the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Action Plan,327 and the Brussels Declaration.328 In Africa, they include the 324 Experts Group on Trafficking in Human Beings of the European Commission, Opinion of 11 October 2005 in connection with the conference “Tackling human trafficking: Policy and best practices in Europe” and its related documents, 2. Experts Group on Trafficking in Human Beings of the European Commission, Opinion of 18 May 2004 on reflection period and residence permit for victims of trafficking in human beings, para. 3. 326 327 OSCE Action Plan, Section V. 328 Brussels Declaration, para. 13. 323 148 EU Plan on Best Practices, para. 4 (vii). 325 RECOMMENDED PRINCIPLES AND GUIDELINES ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING