Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Capacity Development of Local Stakeholders in the Southern Border Provinces (Thailand)

UN Women in partnership with Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom, is implementing the regional project on “Empowering Women for Sustainable Peace: preventing violence and promoting social cohesion in ASEAN”.  The project aims to support select ASEAN Member States to advance and strengthen Women Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, including through preventing violence against women and girls and promoting social cohesion in the region. The project will ultimately contribute to the achievement of gender equality through inclusive and sustainable peace and development in the region.

The Royal Thai Government (RTG) has mainstreamed Women, Peace and Security issues into the existing national tools and instruments on security, justice and development and also developed the Measure and Guideline on Women, Peace and Security in 2017. In addition, the Coordination Center for Children and Women in the Southern Border Provinces (CCCW-SBP) was established in 2019 by the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center (SBPAC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), and in partnership with UN Women and UNICEF. In 2020, the Sub-Committee on Advancement and Monitoring of the Implementation of the Measure and Guideline on Women, Peace and Security was established to monitor the implementation of Measure and Guideline on WPS and to advance WPS agenda in the country. The Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development, with technical support from UN Women, is currently drafting the National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security for further advancement of WPS agenda in the country.

This partnership aims to bolster the collaborative efforts of UN Women and Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) in promoting gender equality and advancing women’s empowerment in the Southern Border provinces. This will be achieved through the co-organisation of two capacity development workshops designed for local stakeholders. These workshops aim to provide participants with the necessary knowledge and tools to advocate for gender equality, integrate gender perspectives into various initiatives, and contribute to the advancement of the women, peace, and security agenda.

The first workshop, titled “Capacity Development Workshop on Women Peace and Security for Law Enforcement and Security Organisations,” targets law enforcement and security authorities or officers. By focusing on this group, the workshop aims to enhance their understanding of gender dynamics and women peace and security agenda and equip them with skills to better address the specific needs and challenges faced by women in the Southern Border provinces.

The second workshop, titled “Workshop on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment for the Participation of Women in the Advancement of Women Peace and Security,” is tailored for women’s networks in the Southern Border provinces. This session provides a platform for local women to come together, exchange experiences, and strengthen their advocacy efforts for gender equality and women’s empowerment within their communities, and increase their role in Women Peace and Security advancement.

Objectives

1.1 Capacity Development Workshop on Women Peace and Security for Law Enforcement and Security Organisations

• Increase awareness and understanding among law enforcement and security personnel about the importance of gender equality and its intersection with peace and security. This includes exploring the specific challenges and vulnerabilities faced by women and the role of law enforcement in addressing these issues effectively.
• Equip participants with practical skills, tools, and strategies to integrate gender-responsive approaches into their daily work.
• Facilitate networking and collaboration among law enforcement agencies, security organizations, and other stakeholders involved in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Southern Border provinces.
• Encourage dialogue and partnership-building to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach to addressing gender-related challenges and advancing the women, peace, and security agenda in the region.

1.2 Workshop on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment for the Participation of Women in the Advancement of Women Peace and Security

• Increase awareness among women’s networks and women community leaders about the importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment in promoting peace and security in the Southern Border provinces. This includes deepening their understanding of the specific challenges faced by women and the crucial role that women play in conflict prevention efforts.
• Equip participants with practical knowledge, skills, and tools to effectively advocate for gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the inclusion of women in peace and security, as well as to enhance their ability to actively participate in decision-making and conflict prevention within their communities.
• Encourage collaboration among women’s networks, community leaders, and other stakeholders working towards gender equality and conflict prevention in the Southern Border provinces, and to create a platform for sharing experiences, best practices, and resources, and strengthen alliances to amplify the voices of women and enhance their collective impact on advancing the women, peace, and security agenda.

The event participation is by invitation only.