A/HRC/34/23 1. Good practices 56. The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights had contributed to increasing the visibility of violations of the rights of women human rights defenders and to wider recognition of the gender-specific risks they faced. 57. The Istanbul Convention had been ratified by 22 States, and the Group of Experts had been set up to monitor its implementation, including by ensuring consistent methods of reporting under the Istanbul Convention and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 58. A representative of the Group of Experts indicated that the Group had an inquiry procedure similar to that of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. When reviewing the reports of States parties, the Group considered information from United Nations entities, including the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. It also relied on information from civil society partners. 59. A panellist representing the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women indicated that the Committee’s rules of procedure provided for the participation of civil society. The Committee held lunch briefings for civil society a day before its consideration of the report of each State party. Civil society organizations were also invited by the Committee to make oral or written statements and provide information and documentation. 60. The Committee interacted closely with national human rights institutions and had adopted a statement on its relationship with them. 61. The Group of Experts had a website especially for civil society with information on how it could contribute to the review of the reports to be submitted by the States parties. As part of its review procedure, the Group undertook visits to the countries that it was reviewing, meeting with a wide range of stakeholders, including those who may not be able to attend the review. 62. The Golden Grace Association in Cameroon was given as an example of engagement with national civil society organizations. The Association was comprised of young, single women who had personally experienced gender-based discrimination. It developed programmes on female entrepreneurship and education for girls. 63. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights granted observer status to organizations that were unrecognized in their own countries as long as they met the required criteria. NGOs had interacted with the Commission’s rapporteur on human rights defenders, provided alternative reports and were consulted during country visits. 64. The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights had also produced a publication, as an advocacy tool, on the human rights issues that had emerged from its field visits. 2. Challenges and lessons learned 65. A representative of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women expressed concern that women human rights defenders may be subject to genderspecific threats and rights violations. 66. Participants noted that training for NGOs on women’s rights was a critical component of the protection and promotion of women’s rights. 9