A/HRC/43/64/Add.1 Mandate Working Group on discrimination against women and girls Description of events organized by mandate holders th During its 24 session held in New York from 28 January to 1 February 2019, the Working Group held meetings with NY based CSOs including as a follow-up to the WG’s 2015 country visit to the United States and also held a day-long consultation with relevant CSOs, academics and experts on the issue of women deprived of liberty, the topic of the WG’s thematic report to the HRC in June 2019. On 13 March 2019, the Working Group organized a side event during the 63rd session of the CSW, entitled “Current challenges and opportunities for women human rights defenders: How can the international community better support their work?” The event provided a unique opportunity to bring WHRDs from different parts of the world in the UN space to engage with Member States, international organizations and civil society who listened to their stories, challenges and opportunities. The event was very well attended – with over 50 participants representing Member States, UN entities, civil society, academics and others. Stakeholders who took the floor expressed their strong support for WHRDs across the world. Throughout 2019, the Working Group expanded outreach at the regional level to enhance its thematic expertise. It convened a number of regional thematic consultations to inform the preparation of its forthcoming thematic reports, including on women’s rights in the world of work and sexual, reproductive health and rights in situations of crisis, and the rights of girls. The following regional consultations took place: A European regional consultation on ‘Women’s Human Rights in the Changing World of Work’ and a consultation with Roma women from several countries in Central and Eastern Europe held on the occasion of the Working Group’s 25th session in June 2019 in Geneva. A thematic consultation with CSOs in Tunisia on ‘Women’s Human Rights in the Changing World of Work’ held on 15 June 2019. An Asia-Pacific regional Expert Group Meeting (EGM) was held on 12-13 September 2019 in Sydney, Australia on ‘Women’s Human Rights in the Changing World of Work’, in collaboration with the ‘Women, Work and Leadership Research Network’ at the University of Sydney. The Working Group organized a consultation in collaboration with OHCHR Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa (ROMENA) from 5 to 8 October 2019 in Morocco attended by fifteen human rights defenders from the MENA region. The consultation provided an opportunity to strengthen the capacity of women’s human rights defenders in understanding the UN human rights system, particularly the different methods of work of the Working Group. Furthermore, participants were informed about the different ways in which they can engage with the Working Group and contribute to its work in furtherance of the mandate’s mission to develop and strengthen the dialogue with key stakeholders on the matters pertaining to its mandate. During its 26th session in Addis Ababa on 21-26 October 2019, the Working Group engaged with Member States of the African Union, regional bodies including different entities of the African Union, and regional civil society organizations and women human rights defenders. The Working Group carried out a number of consultations covering thematic areas of women’s human rights in the changing world of work, sexual and reproductive rights and health in crisis situations and on the rights of girls. Regional consultations were held on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Situations of Crisis and Insecurity; the rights of the Girl Child and Adolescent Girl, and Women’s Human Rights in the Changing World of Work in Mexico on 20-22 November 2019. These consultations enabled the Working Group to reach grassroots organisations and individuals and to learn the realities lived by women and girls. Through these consultations, the Working Group was able to extend support to women human rights defenders networks. 81