A/HRC/32/44
United Nations
General Assembly
Distr.: General
8 April 2016
Original: English
Human Rights Council
Thirty-second session
Agenda item 3
Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,
political, economic, social and cultural rights,
including the right to development
Report of the Working Group on the issue of discrimination
against women in law and in practice
Note by the Secretariat
The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the report of
the Working Group on the issue of discrimination against women in law and in practice
pursuant to Council resolutions 15/23 and 26/5. In its report, the Working Group addresses
the issue of discrimination against women with regard to health and safety. The
instrumentalization of women’s bodies lies at the heart of discrimination against women,
obstructing the achievement of their highest attainable standard of health. The Working
Group highlights in particular the health and safety situation of women who experience
discrimination on multiple and intersectional grounds. Women’s non-discriminatory
enjoyment of the right to health must be autonomous, effective and affordable and the State
has the primary responsibility to respect, protect and fulfil women’s right to health in law
and in practice, including where health services are provided by private actors.
GE.16-05771(E)
*1605771*