‘In Her Shoes’: More people interested in role-play methodology

“I was Lena, a 24-year-old Ukrainian woman with dreams, searching for love, but eventually she was left alone in the face of violence, unable to find support, and fell victim to femicide. This story touched me deeply, because I saw how cruel people can be,” says Barbare Chkhikvadze, Senior Supervisor at Holiday Inn Tbilisi, reflecting on her participation in the well-known role play ‘In Her Shoes’. Together with 18 colleagues, she experienced victims’ life journeys presented through different scenarios.

The role play In Her Shoes is an innovative methodology that UN Women Georgia, in partnership with the Women’s Information Center, has been using since 2021 with diverse audiences to raise awareness about violence against women. It brings together eight scenarios depicting the lives of female victims of violence with different educational backgrounds, professions, family settings and needs. While the beginning of each story is scripted, the ending is determined by the participants, who, step by step and together with the character, navigate the path of escaping violence: seeking appropriate services and support, overcoming barriers, learning about the importance of each individual’s role in addressing violence, and developing greater empathy.

The role-play activity concludes with a facilitated discussion, during which participants, guided by a trainer, reflect on each scenario, explore optimal solutions and identify ways to support survivors. As a result, participants receive information on the various forms of violence, the stereotypes that perpetuate it, the State services available for survivors, and the role of families and communities in preventing and responding to violence.

“Today once again showed me that we should never turn a blind eye to or tolerate violence, because it can end very badly. Manipulative behaviour or public opinion is secondary,” Barbare says. “At the same time, I realized how much courage it takes to stand up for yourself and that, unfortunately, society often lacks solidarity and might not understand survivors.”

Adjara Group, which manages Holiday Inn Tbilisi and is a signatory to the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), conducted the role-play exercise In Her Shoes for its employees across all its entities throughout Georgia. The scenarios were also enacted at APM Terminals Poti, also a WEPs signatory. Notably, alongside the private sector, the education sector showed strong interest in the innovative approach for raising awareness about violence against women this year, with Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Sokhumi State University and Shota Meskhia Zugdidi State Teaching University all hosting the role play as well. In addition, in cooperation with the Skills Agency, In Her Shoes was organized at 11 public schools for students and teachers.

It is also noteworthy that between 2024 and 2025, the initiative reached ethnic minorities, internally displaced persons and conflict-affected communities, for whom it is of particular significance to become more aware of violence against women, gender equality and meaningful participation in public life. In addition, young people were actively engaged in the role play as well. In total, In Her Shoes was conducted 60 times this year in Tbilisi, Kakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli, Imereti, Samegrelo, Guria and Samtskhe-Javakheti, with 1,208 participants overall.

In Her Shoes was carried out as part of the programme “EU 4 Gender Equality: Together against gender stereotypes and gender-based violence” (Phase II). The programme is implemented by UN Women and UNFPA, with the generous support of the European Union.