A/HRC/23/50 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 15/23. In section II, the Working Group summarizes its activities since its last report to the Human Rights Council up until 26 March 2012. In section III it addresses the topic of eliminating discrimination against women in political and public life with a focus on political transition. 2. For the preparation of this report, the Working Group has availed itself of a wealth of information elicited through various means. In December 2011, it circulated a questionnaire to Governments requesting information highlighting legislative and policy reforms for the advancement of women’s rights and gender equality in times of political transition, and received 57 replies. It received inputs from various stakeholders, including the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNWomen), non-governmental organizations and academic experts. Five regional background papers and a global summary were commissioned to further help inform the report. The Working Group wishes to express gratitude to States and other stakeholders for the information provided and will make the materials publically available on its website (www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/WGWomen/Pages/WGWomenIndex.aspx). 3. On the basis of this information, the Working Group has identified good practices that will contribute to the compendium of good practices mandated in paragraph 18 (b) of Human Rights Council resolution 15/23. II. Activities A. Sessions 4. The Working Group held three sessions during the reporting period. At its fourth session (23–27 July 2012), it engaged with a number of stakeholders, including UNWomen, relevant parts of the United Nations Secretariat and other experts on various issues related to women in public and political life. It also exchanged views with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on, inter alia, ways to ensure close coordination, avoid duplication and strengthen information exchange between the two mechanisms. At its fifth session (1–5 October 2012), the Working Group continued to exchange views with experts, focusing on region-specific information. It also met with Member States to seek views on different legal systems and their integration into its work. At its sixth session (14–18 January 2013), the Working Group consolidated the regional and global information gathered to inform the present report. B. Country visits 5. During the period under review, the Working Group requested invitations to visit Chile, China, Peru and Spain. An earlier request was also reiterated to the Government of South Sudan. 6. The Working Group visited the Republic of Moldova from 20 to 31 May 2012 (see A/HRC/23/50/Add.1) and Tunisia from 7 to 11 January 2013 (see A/HRC/23/50/Add.2). It would like to thank these Governments for having responded positively to its requests for a visit and urges those Governments that have not yet done so to provide a favourable response. 3