The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has called on countries to implement actions to combat gender stereotypes. The organization warns that technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) have the potential to intensify digital violence and replicate prejudices that affect women's lives.
In a new guideline, the committee advocates for changes in legislation, digital platforms, and institutional procedures aimed at eradicating discrimination in various spheres of society.
CEDAW expressed great concern about the use of generative AI tools and autonomous systems, known as AI agents, to facilitate acts of aggression on the internet. Among the dangers pointed out are the production of sexualized audiovisual content without victims' consent, identity theft, sexual blackmail, and attacks directed at women in leadership positions. So-called deepfakes refer to media (images, videos, or audio) that have been altered or created through artificial intelligence.
To mitigate such abuses, the committee suggests adopting measures that increase transparency and accountability from both corporations and governments. Proposals include:
Gender biases can also influence the functioning of institutions. In the field of Justice, for example, prejudices can affect how women's testimony is evaluated and the decisions made by courts, which can lead to judicial errors. CEDAW advocates for the revision of norms and practices that treat violence as a strictly private or family matter, that blame victims for the aggression suffered, or that justify male violence. Furthermore, the body proposes mechanisms to hold judges, prosecutors, and security agents accountable for maintaining discriminatory practices, as well as the review of sentences marked by prejudice.
In the health sector, these stereotypes can compromise diagnoses and decisions related to reproductive health. For this reason, the committee advocates for informed consent before any medical procedure, the implementation of measures against obstetric violence, and the decriminalization of abortion.
Disparity is also manifested in the distribution of family responsibilities. The belief that women should assume the largest share of childcare and relatives' care contributes to economic imbalances. To resolve this scenario, CEDAW suggests a more equitable distribution of unpaid work and the creation of parental leave policies. The worsening of care overload can be amplified by conflicts, climate disasters, and humanitarian crises, leading to the normalization of gender violence.
The guideline emphasizes that confronting discrimination requires more than isolated solutions; countries must also address the attitudes, systems, and social structures that perpetuate stereotypes.