Bangkok and Narathiwat, Thailand — Two new community-based initiatives were launched during a mission to southern border provinces of Thailand by UN Women’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific and Representative, Christine Arab, alongside Suda Sulong, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development for the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.
The visit, from 13 to14 February 2025, aimed to strengthen partnerships, enhance gender equality and advance the women, peace and security agenda by launching the Women’s Empowerment and Learning Centres (WE Centres) and the Women, Peace and Security Network.
“WE Centres serve as safe spaces for members of the WPS (Women, Pace and Security) Network to learn, collaborate and advance the WPS agenda while amplifying women’s meaningful role in social cohesion at the local level,” said Arab.
“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,” Suda said.
Governor Ampon Phongsuwan, of Yala Province, thanked UN Women for prioritizing women’s empowerment in the three southern border provinces, and emphasized the importance of advancing gender equality in a manner that respects local culture and traditions.
In Pattani Province, Governor Patimoh Sadiyamu, Thailand’s first woman Muslim governor, reaffirmed her commitment to advancing gender equality. Discussions focused on institutionalizing the newly established WE Centre and Women, Peace and Security Network, ensuring their sustainability and integration into the country’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, which is under development.
“Women in our province have been the driving force behind community-level economic development and conflict prevention,” Patimah said.
A safe space for learning and economic empowerment
On 13 February 2025, the second WE Centre was inaugurated in Yala. The new centre, managed by the Women’s Peace Association in collaboration with women leaders from all eight districts of Yala, is unique is 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.
“The WE Centre is more than just a café; it’s a space for connection, empowerment and peacebuilding,” said Pateemoh Pohitaedaoh of the Women’s Peace Association.
In Pattani, there are two WE Centres. The first, located in the Yuyo community, is spearheaded by a group of widows and single mothers who have turned to mushroom farming.
“This mushroom farm is the heart of the community for single mothers – a place where opportunities grow, incomes flourish and families thrive,” said Phanyawadee Awae, a beneficiary of the project.
The second WE Centre, housed within Prince of Songkla University’s Faculty of Science and Technology, is a collaborative effort among civil society organizations (CSOs) including the Network of Civic Women for Peace, Fasai Association, and the Buddhists for Peace Network. Together, these centres provide women, youth and community members with opportunities for knowledge-exchange, leadership training, and digital security and peacebuilding activities.
“Through this vital space, we’re creating pathways for women to shape not only their own futures but the future of their communities,” says Maruf Chebueraheng, of the digital4peace Foundation, which trains women in the southern border provinces to navigate digital spaces safely.
Looking ahead
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 by the Governments of Australia, Canada, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Republic of Korea.