A/HRC/15/40 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 30 August 2010 Original: English Human Rights Council Fifteenth session Agenda items 2 and 3 Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Thematic study of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on discrimination against women, in law and practice, and how the issue is addressed throughout the United Nations human rights system* Summary The present report provides a thematic study on discrimination against women, in law and practice, and how the issue is addressed throughout the United Nations human rights system. This has been undertaken in consultation with States, relevant United Nations bodies, mechanism and agencies, including the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the agencies within the new United Nations composite entity on gender, and other stakeholders, as requested by Human Rights Council resolution 12/17. * GE.10-15697 Late submission.