A/HRC/38/46 affecting women’s lives and give a broad and comprehensive overview of the persistent and global discrimination against women and girls, in a concise and timely manner. 57. In its reports, the Working Group has striven to provide practical tools for States and other stakeholders to address the major causes of and trends in discrimination against women. While a plethora of literature exists on these topics, in its reports, the Working Group has condensed the available information in order to enhance its practical utility, and has sought to consistently advance progressive standards at the international level. 58. In their responses to the Working Group’s questionnaire, States agreed that despite polarization and the sometimes contested nature of women’s human rights within the Human Rights Council, the reports of the Working Group have influenced the language of Council resolutions. For instance, in its resolution 35/18, the Council included progressive language directly derived from the Working Group’s reports with regard to the right to bodily autonomy, the naming of patriarchal norms, the existence of a democratic deficit due to barriers to women’s political participation and recognition of the important role of feminists and women human rights defenders. Language from the Working Group’s reports was successfully incorporated in previous Council resolutions on discrimination against women, 31 with some exceptions, particularly regarding issues relating to social protection floors, equality in the family and safe access to termination of pregnancy. 59. In its response to the questionnaire, one State reported that the Working Group’s work had inspired its national human rights institution to make recommendations focusing on discrimination in cultural and family life. Another State indicated that the Working Group’s reports had had an impact at the national level, including by being referred to by the parliament in the framework of legislative initiatives. Another State reported that the Working Group’s reports had proven particularly useful as a reference in the process of drafting a national action plan on human rights. Country visits 60. Through its country visits,32 the Working Group has worked with States and other stakeholders to identify and promote good practices and exchange views on challenges relating to the elimination of discriminatory laws and practices and has made recommendations on the improvement of legislation and implementation of the law in a manner that contributes to the empowerment of women. In preparing for country visits, the Working Group works with United Nations country teams, including UN-Women, when present. Its preparation includes following up on recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and those of other special procedures. While in the country, the Working Group systematically meets with all stakeholders at the national and local levels, engages with communities, individual women, women’s organizations, and traditional and religious leaders. It has striven to prepare comprehensive end-of-mission statements that can build on the momentum of the visit to have maximum impact and provide a preliminary road map to the elimination of laws and practices that discriminate against women. The Working Group has also been able to visit a State that has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and is thus not subject to review by the Committee. 61. Some of the country visits have been valuable in bringing about changes to law and practice. Following one country visit, a State approved a series of amendments to its legislation on gender equality, including, as recommended by the Working Group, adopting quotas for a minimum of 40 per cent for both sexes in government positions and on political party electoral lists. The same State reported that the Working Group’s visit had been useful for the establishment of its national human rights institution. Another State re-established the practice of distributing emergency contraception following a recommendation from the Working Group, and another set up a committee to reform discriminatory provisions in its Family Code. Further to a Working Group recommendation, one State halted plans for the 31 32 See http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=188. See www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Women/WGWomen/Pages/CountryVisits.aspx. 13