Working Group on discrimination against women and girls

Purpose of the mandate

There have been many legal and policy reforms to integrate women’s and girls’ human rights fully into domestic law over the years.

Yet progress remains insufficient.

Women and girls everywhere still experience discrimination across all areas of life, as structural, sociocultural, economic and legal barriers continue to obstruct their equal participation, access and enjoyment of their rights.

Discrimination against women and girls persists in both public and private spheres—in times of conflict and in peace. It transcends national, cultural and religious boundaries. It is often fueled by patriarchal stereotyping and power imbalances which are mirrored in laws, policies and practice.

Full gender equality has not been achieved in any country in the world, and pledges to eliminate discriminatory laws and practices have not been fulfilled.

The mandate of the Working Group was created to intensify efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls throughout the world.

About the mandate

The Working Group on discrimination against women and girls is one of the special procedures of the Human Rights Council. It was established on 1 October 2010 by the Council in its resolution 15/23, adopted by consensus. Most recently, the mandate was renewed in June 2025 through resolution 59/14.

Complementing the work of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, who focuses specifically on violence, the Working Group brings an independent and comprehensive approach to addressing discrimination against women and girls in all its forms. It engages with all States, irrespective of whether they have ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and provides analysis and guidance on laws, policies and practices.

Learn more about the mandate and its methods of work

About the members

The Working Group is composed of five independent experts of balanced geographical representation, one from each of the five United Nations regional groups, working collectively as a group and producing work in the name of the mandate.

More on the members of the Working Group