The United Nations, with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), hosted a conference on ‘Gender Equality Perceptions in Georgia,’ marking a significant milestone in this year’s International Women’s Day campaign. Organised under the global theme ‘For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,’ the event brought together diverse stakeholders to discuss progress, challenges, and evolving public perceptions on gender equality.

At the conference, representatives from civil society, academia, the private sector, and international organisations explored public attitudes towards gender equality from various perspectives. Key topics included women’s political participation, economic empowerment, and shifting family roles.

“The United Nations reaffirms its steadfast commitment to advancing the rights of women and girls and supporting Georgia in achieving full and meaningful equality. We stand in solidarity with all women and girls, urging concrete action to secure equal rights, power, and opportunities for a future where no one is left behind. At the core of this vision is empowering the next generation – young people driving lasting change,” said Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia.

“International Women’s Day is a vital moment to celebrate progress and address the challenges that remain on the path to meaningful gender equality. Recognising the persistent barriers to women’s economic and political participation is crucial, as is ensuring their full and active role in shaping the country’s future,” stated Elisabet Brandberg, Head of Development Cooperation, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Sweden in Georgia.

“Achieving social, economic, and political equality between women and men is fundamental to building a thriving and prosperous society for all. Integrating gender-sensitive approaches across all sectors is essential to ensuring equal access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making,” added Barbara Böni, Regional Director of Cooperation South Caucasus, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

To inform discussions, the United Nations unveiled key findings from two new landmark studies exploring gender attitudes and social norms in Georgian society:

• Men, Women, and Gender Relations in Georgia (IMAGES) 2024: Supported by Sweden, this research by UNDP, UNFPA, and the Institute of Social Studies and Analysis (ISSA) examines men’s attitudes towards gender equality, women’s perspectives on men’s behaviour, and prevailing societal norms. The third edition of this study provides a 12-year perspective, comparing 2024 findings with 2013 and 2019 data.
• Gender Equality Attitudes Study (GEAS) 2024: Conducted by UN Women and CRRC-Georgia with Switzerland’s support, this study is the first Georgian edition of the Unstereotype Alliance’s global survey, assessing attitudes across ten key areas, including education, employment, family roles, safety, and financial independence.

Both studies reveal shifting perceptions and a widening generational gap in attitudes toward gender equality. Compared to 2019, fewer men now support equal inheritance rights, with approval for women and men having an equal right to inherit the family home dropping from 61% in 2019 to 52% in 2024. 

However, younger generations (under 35), women, and employed individuals continue to advocate for greater gender equality, particularly in employment, equal pay, and the fair distribution of responsibilities at home and in the workplace.

Research highlights mixed views on gender roles. While 57.5% of respondents believe a woman’s primary responsibility is to care for her family, an even higher percentage (62%) recognise that Georgia would benefit from increased women’s participation in politics and decision-making.

Structural barriers remain—twice as many people believe that running for elected office is more challenging for women (22%) than men (11%). Family obligations (49%) and entrenched traditional views on gender roles (27%) are cited as the biggest obstacles to women's political engagement.

Background Information:

The UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality is a collaborative initiative between the United Nations and Sweden, to advance gender equality in Georgia. Implemented by the three UN agencies – UNDP, UNFPA, and UN Women, the programme drives progress in key areas such as women’s political and economic empowerment, sexual and reproductive rights, and eliminating violence against women and girls. Launched in 2022, the third phase of this extensive initiative will continue through 2026 with US$7,3000,000 in funding from Sweden.

Women’s Increased Leadership for Democracy in Georgia (WILD), implemented by UN Women, promotes women’s political empowerment and enhances their participation in decision-making. The initiative is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) with a contribution of US$4,000,000.

Media Contacts:

• Sophie Tchitchinadze, UNDP, +995 599 196907, sophie.tchitchinadze@undp.org
• Elene Sakvarelidze, UNDP, +995 599 003944, elene.sakvarelidze@undp.org
• Sopho Chaava, UNFPA, +995 577 042288, chaava@unfpa.org
• Salome Modebadze, UNFPA, +995 598 777779, modebadze@unfpa.org
• Gvantsa Asatiani, UN Women, +995 599 517371, gvantsa.asatiani@unwomen.org
• Nino Natroshvili, UN Women, +995 595 356468, nino.natroshvili@unwomen.org