ICAS becomes an ally of the Unstereotype Alliance  

The International Council for Advertising Self-Regulation (ICAS) is delighted to join the Unstereotype Alliance as an ally to support its mission to eradicate harmful stereotypes in advertising.

ICAS is a global platform that promotes responsible advertising through effective advertising self-regulation. One of the core missions of the association is to promote best practice and work on common solutions to challenges that need to be addressed by the advertising industry and advertising standards bodies, or so called Self-Regulatory Organizations. Since ICAS was set up in 2016, the issue of responsible gender depiction in advertising and the broader issue of diversity and inclusion in advertising have been high on ICAS’ agenda. 

ICAS is now truly delighted to join the Unstereotype Alliance, and with that a broad industry effort with the important goal to fight harmful stereotypes. A goal ICAS and its members fully support and share. 

The Unstereotype Alliance, convened by UN Women, has been embraced by businesses and organizations championing the end of bias and stereotypes in advertising. It strives to affect positive cultural change by using the power of advertising to create positive portrayals of all people. The members of the Alliance collaborate to help creating a world without stereotypes, empowering people in all their diversity, whether that be related to gender, race, class, age, ability, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, language or education.

Guy Parker, ICAS President, stated:

We are delighted to join the Unstereotype Alliance because ICAS and its members share the vision of championing advertising that is free of harmful and offensive stereotypes. We can better achieve that vision if we join forces and create powerful partnerships at global level while encouraging local collaborations through the national chapters. We look forward to engaging with the Unstereotype Alliance and all its members to foster a meaningful and lasting change towards better advertising.

Stephan Loerke, ICAS Vice President and CEO of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) said:

WFA is a founding member of both ICAS and the Unstereotype Alliance. By supporting ICAS and advertising standards, we support a system that ensures that consumers can trust the brands and their messaging. Our work with the Unstereotype Alliance is focused on making our industry more diverse and inclusive, both in front and behind the camera. It is great to see these two organizations join forces to drive change in our industry and in society more broadly.

About the Unstereotype Alliance

The Unstereotype Alliance is a thought and action platform that seeks to eradicate harmful stereotypes in all media and advertising content. Convened by UN Women, the United Nations entity for Gender Equality, the Unstereotype Alliance brings together partners and seeks to collectively use the advertising industry as a force for good to drive positive change all over the world. The Alliance contributes to empowering people in all their diversity (race, class, age, ability, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, language, education, etc.) to help create an equal world. Find out more.