A/HRC/47/38 I. Activities 1. The present report covers the activities of the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, from the time of submission of its previous report (A/HRC/44/51) to April 2021. A. Sessions 2. In the context of the restrictions due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the Working Group held three sessions virtually during the period under review. At its twenty-eighth session, from 6 to 10 July 2020, it held meetings with representatives of civil society organizations, discussed future position papers and methodological matters and focused on the present thematic analysis. 3. At the twenty-ninth session, held from 12 to 16 October 2020, the experts met with the then newly appointed Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. They also met with the main sponsor of the mandate of the Working Group and organized a farewell gathering for the outgoing member from the Latin America and Caribbean region and an introductory session for the new member of the Working Group. 4. At its thirtieth session, held on 19 and from 22 to 25 January 2021, the Working Group held meetings with civil society organizations, organized a well-attended meeting with Member States and worked on its thematic report. The Working Group also discussed possible future thematic priorities. B. Country visits 5. The Working Group visited Romania from 24 February to 6 March 2020. 1 It thanks the Government for its cooperation and encourages other States to respond positively to its requests for visits, which will resume as soon as the global public health context allows. C. Communications and press releases 6. The Working Group addressed communications to Governments, individually or jointly with other mandate holders. The communications concerned a wide range of subjects falling within its mandate, including discriminatory legislation and practices and allegations of the violations of the rights of women human rights defenders, gender-based violence and violations of the right to sexual and reproductive health.2 The Working Group also issued press releases, individually or jointly with other mandate holders, treaty bodies and regional mechanisms.3 D. Other activities 7. The experts also undertook numerous activities in their capacity as members of the Working Group. 4 In particular, the chair of the Working Group addressed the sixty-fifth session of the Commission on the Status of Women and presented an oral report on its work to the General Assembly. The Working Group organized a side event on the theme “Girls’ activism: accomplishments, challenges and opportunity for social change”, with girl activists from various regions of the world during the session of the Commission and members of the 1 2 3 4 See A/HRC/47/38/Add.1. See www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/WGWomen/Pages/Communications.aspx. See www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/NewsSearch.aspx?MID=WG_Women. See www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/WGWomen/Pages/Activities.aspx. 3