Report on the Annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout the work of the Human Rights Council and that of its mechanisms
By Filipe Dias Kalgaard
Date: 29th of September 2026
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The Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS) participated on the 29th of September, represented by Coordinators Filipe Dias Kalgaard and Romina M. Iramloo, at the event titled “Annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective throughout the work of the Human Rights Council and that of its mechanisms”. The theme of the annual panel discussion was “From gender stereotypes to structural discrimination: strengthening the Human Rights Council’s response”.
The discussion was chaired by H.E. Mr. Sidharto R. Suryodipuro, President of the Human Rights Council. Ms. Awa Dabo, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights and Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director at UN-Women both held opening statements. The panellists for the annual discussion are: Ms. Rhoda Reddock, Member of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Ms. Rosina Rossi Albert, President of the Administrative Litigation Court, Uruguay (Video Message), Ms. Amrita Kapur, Secretary General, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Ms. Tenar Lorente, UN Policy and Advocacy Adviser, Plan International.
ACHRS concerns itself with the matter of gender stereotypes and their transmission because of its propensity for exacerbating gender discrimination and violations. We strongly reject the usage of gender stereotypes as part of public gender discourse and in everyday life. We see now growing globally the systematic growth of intolerant gender stereotypes, for instance in the so-called “manosphere” on social medias. Our Center believes now to be more important than ever to stand united against intolerant gender discourse and gender discrimination in the form of gender stereotypes, as the Council finds, contributes to structural discrimination.
Ms. Amrita Kapur, discussed the wider context surrounding the infrastructure of perpetuating gender discrimination. She describes the political economy of gender discrimination such as the increasingly big business of social medias and tech companies that thrive from the profits of hateful rhetoric and other forms of discrimination, intolerance and stereotypes shared on social media platforms. This process reinforces and ingrains harmful rhetoric across societies globally.
Ms. Tenar Lorente, described further the context of digital gender stereotypes, such as young girls being “told how they should be as a woman” and young boys being shown violent content and “how to be a man”. These narratives perpetuate stereotypes that are opposed to the global progress towards gender equality.
The discussion aims to reaffirm State’s obligation under international human rights law to further address discrimination and patterns in societies, such as power relations, norms and practices that produce and perpetuate gender stereotypes. The panellists shared the call for creation new means to identify effective and transformative measures to prevent and ultimately eliminate gender discrimination and stereotyping.
ACHRS calls on the Arab States to also strengthen their commitments to challenging gender stereotypes and discrimination. We urge the Arab States and all Middle Eastern States to examine and reevaluate their policies in upholding gender equality, and to follow the lead by gender progressive states-and-the-Council to identify new measures to challenge gender stereotypes.
ACHRS will continue to monitor and report on the state of human rights and gender equality in the Middle East. This paper was written as part of the Center’s efforts in following the progress of the 63rd Session of the Human Rights Council.
