A/HRC/56/51 concerning access to therapeutic abortion,36 non-discriminatory and timely access to maternal health care,37 mistreatment during childbirth38 and access to contraceptive information and services.39 The Working Group welcomed the judicial recognition of the harms caused by sexual and reproductive violence during conflict and the provision of reparations. 40 2. Facing and countering setbacks (a) Political and public life 27. The Working Group has devoted particular attention to the political and public participation of girls and young women. It has noted that common misperceptions around children’s right to participation in political and public life, restrictions on their autonomy, disregard for their best interests, paternalistic control and superficial, tokenistic efforts to involve them in diverse processes limit the freedom and space of engagement of children and young people in general. In the case of girls and young women, these barriers are dramatically compounded by predominant gender stereotypes and patriarchal social norms. 41 28. Lack of safety and security is a major barrier to the activism of girls and young women, who are often exposed to attacks, harassment and violence, including sexual violence. They may face domestic violence as a reprisal for their activism or may be separated from their children by their partners and family as a form of punishment. In addition, some of the activists with whom the Working Group met mentioned their experience of arbitrary arrests, intimidation, threats of killings, kidnappings, being tracked and spied on and the abuse of anti-terrorist legislation to further shrink the civic space and restrict their activities. Digital gender-based violence and harassment add a further layer of challenges to girls’ and young women’s activism.42 In the context of the backlash against gender equality, girls and women face increased risks of harassment and violence when engaging on themes related to gender equality.43 29. The Working Group recognizes girl and young women activists who take action to advance human rights as human rights defenders, regardless of how they identify themselves or are perceived by others, and they are thus entitled to all related legal protections.44 It has underscored that girls’ and young women’s equal rights and opportunities in all areas are the basis for creating an enabling and just environment for their activism. The dignity and agency of all girls and young women must be recognized and actively promoted, supported and protected, while ensuring safeguards against threats, violence and reprisals, including offline and online harassment and violence, and undertaking concrete steps to remove the structural barriers and the systemic disadvantages that they face.45 (b) Economic and social life 30. Women and girls are disproportionately represented among the world’s poor. Global projections show that an estimated 388 million women and girls were living in extreme poverty in 2022 (compared with 372 million men and boys).46 The current situation is the result of historical and continuing economic policy choices that have been developed within 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 8 See Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, L.C. v. Peru (CEDAW/C/50/D/22/2009). See Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, Da Silva Pimentel v. Brazil (CEDAW/C/49/D/17/2008) and S.F.M. v. Spain (CEDAW/C/75/D/138/2018). See CEDAW/C/IRL/CO/6-7. See CEDAW/C/OP.8/PHL/1. A/HRC/47/38, para. 39. A/HRC/50/25, paras. 29 and 70. Ibid., paras. 36, 38, 39 and 41. See Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, “Gender equality and gender backlash”. A/HRC/50/25, para. 14. Ibid., para. 72. UN-Women, “Poverty deepens for women and girls, according to latest projections”, 1 February 2022, available at https://data.unwomen.org/features/poverty-deepens-women-and-girls-accordinglatest-projections. GE.24-07559