A/HRC/26/39 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolutions 15/23 and 23/7. In section II, the Working Group summarizes its activities since its last report to the Human Rights Council up until 18 March 2014. In section III, it addresses the topic of eliminating discrimination against women in economic and social life with a focus on economic crisis, the priority theme for 2013–2014. 2. Frances Raday took up her function as Chairperson-Rapporteur of the Working Group and and Emna Aouij her function as Vice-Chairperson following the presentation, in June 2013, at the twenty-third session of the Human Rights Council, of the Working Group’s thematic report on eliminating discrimination against women in political and public life with a focus on political transition (A/HRC/23/50). II. Activities A. Sessions 3. The Working Group held three sessions during the reporting period. At its seventh session (1–5 July 2013), it engaged with a number of stakeholders, including UN-Women, relevant parts of the United Nations Secretariat and other experts on various issues related to women in economic and social life. At its eighth session (30 September–4 October 2013), the Working Group continued to exchange views with experts on its priority theme, and held a workshop on business and gender.1 It also convened for the first time a meeting with representatives from regional human rights mechanism from the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. At its ninth session (20–24 January 2014), the Working Group consolidated the information it had gathered to inform the present report and started consulting stakeholders on its next thematic priority for 2014–2015: discrimination against women in family and cultural life. B. Country visits 4. The Working Group visited Iceland from 16 to 23 May 2013 (see A/HRC/26/39/Add.1) and China from 12 to 19 December 2013 (see A/HRC/26/39/Add.2). It would like to thank these States for their cooperation prior and during the visits. It would also like to thank those States that extended invitations for country visits, and urges other States to follow suit. C. Communications and press releases 5. The Working Group continued sending communications to Governments during the reporting period, either individually or jointly with other mandates, concerning a wide array of issues falling within its mandate. It also issued a number of press statements, either 1 See the background paper and outcome document from the workshop at www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/WGWomen/Pages/Discriminationagainstwomenineconomicandso ciallifeafocusoneconomiccrisis.aspx. 3