A/HRC/38/46 C. The Working Group’s efforts to contribute to the advancement of the elimination of discrimination against women 49. In the face of this backlash, the Working Group has consistently reiterated its call for the elimination of any laws, policies or practices that have a discriminatory effect on women and girls, and has committed to denouncing any anti-rights rhetoric and actions that hinder the upholding of human rights standards, particularly regarding gender equality. 1. The Working Group’s work 50. The Working Group has deployed considerable efforts to contribute to the advancement of substantive equality and the development of progressive standards in a number of thematic areas. It has challenged the status quo and addressed topics where norms are contested or fragile but where protection of women’s human rights is essential to the achievement of equality and the elimination of discrimination against women. 51. Since its establishment in 2010, the Working Group has sought to organize its work in the manner that best serves the mandate given to it by the Human Rights Council and that best advances the elimination of discrimination against women (see A/HRC/20/28). The Working Group has sought to assist States and other stakeholders to find and maintain the political will necessary to fulfil their obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and to create an environment that is conducive to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, in accordance with Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals, but also the cross-cutting principle of leaving no one behind. 52. In view of the work being carried out by international and regional human rights bodies and other special procedure mandate holders, the Working Group agreed that it would build on existing standards and initiatives, and on the available knowledge and tools produced to date by States, United Nations bodies, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations. In accordance with the mandate provided by the Human Rights Council in resolution 15/23, the Working Group has sought to draw upon the findings of the United Nations human rights machinery and the broader United Nations system. 53. Like many special procedure mandates that share areas of thematic focus with treaty bodies and United Nations bodies, the Working Group has worked to take advantage of its complementarity with the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, UN-Women, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, and other mandate holders to ensure that its actions are mutually reinforcing with those of others dedicated to the colossal task of eliminating the discrimination that still has a daily impact on the lives of half the world’s population. In its resolution 23/7, the Human Rights Council recognized the constructive approach of the Working Group. 54. The Working Group has sought to maximize the impact and utility of the tools that are available to special procedures. It has also sought to make the best possible use of its convening capacity as a Working Group, through its annual sessions in Geneva and New York. 55. Additionally, it has taken advantage of new opportunities to advance the elimination of discrimination against women, including by contributing to global processes such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Commission on the Status of Women, submitting amicus briefs in relevant court cases and developing position papers on particular women’s human rights issues that needed further clarification. In accordance with its mandate, the Working Group has based its work on international human rights laws and standards, but also compiled good practices going beyond these standards. Thematic reports 56. In order to better fulfil its mandate, the Working Group has systemized its analysis in five thematic areas: political and public (A/HRC/23/50), economic and social (A/HRC/26/39), family and culture (A/HRC/29/40), health and safety (A/HRC/32/44) and good practices (A/HRC/35/29). The Working Group has managed to embrace all areas 12