A/HRC/35/28 countries now allow same-sex marriage;36 at the beginning of 2000, that number stood at zero. 37 The community’s advocacy work has also been extraordinarily successful in changing public opinion. In 1996, for example, only 26 per cent of people in the United States supported the idea of same-sex marriage. By 2015, that number had risen to 61 per cent.38 52. Groups that work to end discrimination based on caste and descent and groups that combat discrimination against people with albinism have succeeded in raising the profile of the often underreported violations that these groups face. As a result, the first comprehensive United Nations report on caste-based discrimination was presented by the Special Rapporteur on minority issues in March 2016 (A/HRC/31/56), and the mandate of the United Nations Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism was established in 2015.39 53. The adoption of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) of the International Labour Organization happened primarily due to the efforts of a global network of domestic workers’ organizations that came together under the auspices of the International Domestic Workers Network (now the International Domestic Workers Federation). This was a notable achievement in which domestic workers all over the world, who are often excluded from the purview of oversight mechanisms, played a direct and active role in articulating and advocating for clear demands to be addressed in the Convention.40 54. Civil society has succeeded in pushing multilateral organizations to open up their decision-making processes to public scrutiny and input. A notable achievement was the process adopted by the United Nations in selecting its new Secretary-General, who took up his post in January 2017. Under the campaign banner “1 for 7 Billion”, civil society globally took part in what is considered the most open selection process for the United Nations Secretary-General so far. 41 Similarly, the Committee for the Protection of Journalists recently succeeded in gaining consultative status with the Economic and Social Council — a chance to participate in open United Nations processes — after years of opposition by some States .42 This, however, is a one-off achievement, and does not signify a change in the attitudes or methods of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, namely the body that grants consultative status to NGOs, which still needs major reforms. 55. In other situations, civic actions have galvanized the public, resulting in positive reforms. According to the Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Education Trust, the enactment of the Domestic Violence Act in Zimbabwe in 2007 represented a victory after years of advocacy by civil society groups; the Act is credited with reducing the level of gender-based violence.43 Likewise, in Zambia, the equal status of women has been established through a number of initiatives such as gender equality legislation, women’s political and economic empowerment programmes and the eradication or transformation of cultural traditions and attitudes that are harmful to women’s advancement.44 3. Driving and applying innovation 56. The Special Rapporteur conceives of innovation as civil society’s ability to initiate, take advantage of or respond to emerging ideas, products or methods that improve society’s well-being. Civil society’s unique characteristics — particularly its not-for-profit motives 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 See www.lgbtqnation.com/tag/gay-marriage/. See www.government.nl/topics/family-law/contents/same-sex-marriage. http://www.gallup.com/poll/191645/americans-support-gay-marriage-remains-high.aspx. See www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Albinism/Pages/Mandate.aspx. Contribution of Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing. See www.una.org.uk/news/guterres-poised-become-next-sec-gen-after-historic-open-process-una-ukcampaign-victory. See https://cpj.org/2016/07/un-committee-grants-cpj-accreditation.php. Contribution from Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Education Trust (Zimbabwe). Contribution from Women for Change (Zambia). 13