On a recent trip to Thailand’s Southern Border Provinces (SBPs), Christine Arab, UN Women’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific and Representative in Thailand, and Suda Sulong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development for the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), introduced two new community-based projects.  By establishing the Women’s Empowerment and Learning Centers (WE Centers) and the WPS Network, the visit, which took place on February 13–14, 2025, sought to improve gender equality, fortify partnerships, and further the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.

“WE Centres serve as safe spaces for members of the WPS Network to learn, collaborate and advance the WPS agenda while amplifying women’s meaningful role in social cohesion at the local level,” said Arab.

Sulong added, “The WE Centres are about empowering women, not just by providing opportunities, but by creating a space for exchange and learning, which serves as the foundation for sustainable peace and security.”

The group emphasized the value of women’s leadership in governance and peacebuilding during high-level talks with local government representatives.

 Yala Governor, Ampon Phongsuwan expressed gratitude to UN Women for putting women’s empowerment first in the three SBPs, recognizing their unique vulnerabilities and crucial contributions. Ampon also underlined the significance of promoting gender equality while honoring regional customs and culture.

Thailand’s first female Muslim governor, Governor Patimoh Sadiyamu, welcomed the delegation to Pattani and reaffirmed her dedication to promoting gender equality in the province.  The newly created WE Center and WPS Network were institutionalized, their sustainability ensured, and their incorporation into Thailand’s developing National Action Plan (NAP) on WPS were the main topics of discussion.

“The Pattani Provincial Office has made it a priority to support, promote and strengthen women’s leadership, meaningful participation and economic empowerment in Pattani. Women in our province have been the driving force behind community-level economic development and conflict prevention,” said Sadiyamu.

The second WE Centre was inaugurated in Yala on 13 February 2025. This milestone builds on the first centre, established in 2024 at the Coordination Centre for Children and Women (CCCW). The new centre, managed by the Women’s Peace Association (WE Peace) in partnership with women leaders from all eight districts of Yala, is exclusive in its integration of a social enterprise model: a coffee corner offering locally brewed beverages and a marketplace for women to sell handmade and community-produced goods. This not only supports economic empowerment but fosters sustainable funding for centre activities.

Looking ahead

With strong backing from local government leaders and the active involvement of CSOs, the establishment of the WE Centres and the WPS Network in Thailand’s SBPs are set to create lasting impacts. They offer a blueprint for fostering inclusive governance, strengthening women’s leadership, and ensuring that gender equality remains at the heart of peace and security efforts in the region.

As Thailand prepares to implement its NAP on WPS, the support of local women, government officials and CSOs will be instrumental in shaping a more inclusive and peaceful future.

“The WE Centres are founded on the strength of empowered women’s groups and CSO networks, serving as safe spaces for the Networks to learn, collaborate, and advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda while amplifying women’s meaningful role in social cohesion at the local level. These centres also encourage economic opportunities for women, ensuring their sustainability and long-term impact within communities,” said Arab. The new WE Centres are among six UN Women-supported centres now operating in Chiang Rai, Pattani and Yala provinces. These centres have been funded and strengthened through contributions from the Governments of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Korea.