Outcome THA_D_6.1

A comprehensive and dynamic set of global norms, policies and standards on gender equality and women's empowerment is in place and is applied through action by Governments and other stakeholders at all levels

UN Women Thailand has been progressively achieved Gender Equality and Women’s empowerment (GEWE) through the development of key policy and framework as follows: With the longstanding technical support UNW, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has successfully developed the pratical handbook on gender responsive budgeting and has initiated joint cooperation with six government agencies/partners on signing the MOU on Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB) to advance GRB at national and local levels. In this regard, UN Women provides technical support including trainings, consultations, and assessment mechanisms, to the Ministry to enhance knowledge and understanding of Chief Gender Equality Officers (CGEOs), Gender Focal Points (GFPs), and relevant authorities on Gender Responsive Budgeting. The women and youth in the Southern border provinces of Thailand who has participated in various training workshops including digital literacy, vocational trainings, and community dialogues, have played key roles in preventing violence and build social cohesion. They are equipped with skills and knowledge of peace and security and are more confident to participate in social and political platforms to raise their voice and to stand up for vulnerable women in communities. The increase of women participation in decision making, peace building, and conflict prevention reflects in the Measure and Guideline on Women Peace and Security which will be reviewed and revised with the technical support of UNW.

A comprehensive and dynamic set of global norms, policies and standards on gender equality and women's empowerment is in place and is applied through action by Governments and other stakeholders at all levels

Through joint activities, technical advice, various platforms and spaces provided by UN Women, both government agencies, especially the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), and CSOs collaborated to advance Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE), the implementation of CEDAW, Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the UNSCR 1325, and localization of SDG 5, SDG 16, and SDG 17, for instance: Beijing+30 National Report: UN Women Thailand continued its strategic support to the Royal Thai Government, particularly the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS), by facilitating the review and translation of critical national reports, including Thailand's review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This collaboration enabled Thailand's active participation in the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review, held in Bangkok from 19-21 November 2024. The conference provided a vital platform for key gender machinery to engage in dialogue, exchange knowledge, and address current and emerging challenges. Participants identified good practices, lessons learned, and priority actions needed to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment, contributing to the full realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The event also explored innovative policy options and strategies to accelerate progress toward these goals. UNSCR 1325: 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. As of December 2024, the WPS NAP was endorsed by the Committee on the Promotion of the Status of Women and will be further submitted to the National Committee on Policy and Strategy for the Development of the Status of Women, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council, and the Cabinet respectively for adoption in 2025. Insitutional development: UN Women Thailand in partnership with the King Prajadhipok Institute (KPI) and the MSDHS was the development of an Executive Curriculum on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE). This hybrid training program, consisting of 50 hours of instruction across six modules, included a practical component and targeted senior officials and management personnel from diverse sectors, including government ministries, parliament, local governments, private companies, academia, civil society organizations, associations, and independent bodies. The training equipped 60 participants with the knowledge and skills needed to integrate gender equality principles into their respective sectors, fostering leadership and action toward advancing GEWE in Thailand. Annual public and advocacy campaign on GEWE: On 24 November, UN Women, UNFPA, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), and the Embassies of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands—supported by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and Café Velodome—organized the event ‘A Safe Journey With Her’ as a collaborative action during the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The initiative aimed to increase awareness of the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) and mobilize advocacy efforts toward its prevention. The event featured a cycling activity through Bangkok, which successfully engaged 400 participants. As a result, participants enhanced their awareness and knowledge of ending violence against women and girls while amplifying their advocacy to support organizations and actors dedicated to the prevention, response, and assistance for women and girls affected by violence. Additionally, the event extended its impact to over 100,000 individuals through extensive social media outreach and media coverage, reinforcing its contribution to the broader goal of raising public awareness and advocating for collective action to address GBV. In addition, UN Women, UNDP, and UNFPA, in partnership with local stakeholders including the Center for Girls Foundation, organised the Kham Kong Run: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, held on 7–8 December 2024 in Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai Province, effectively advocated for the elimination of gender-based violence (GBV) and promoted the creation of a safe, inclusive society for individuals of all groups, genders, and ages. The event engaged over 500 participants in a running campaign, raising their awareness of GBV issues and strengthening their commitment to fostering inclusivity and safety in their communities. Through this collaborative initiative, participants contributed to a broader movement for GBV prevention and advocacy, reinforcing societal efforts to achieve gender equality and end violence in all forms. International Conference on Addressing Technology Facilitated Violence Against Women (TFVAW) and the Meeting of the Working Group on TFVAW from 1-3 July2024 in Seoul, Republic of Korea: The Royal Thai Government was supported to participate in the conference to provide inputs on the conceptual definition of TFVAW that has been proposed by the global expert group mentioned above to work towards developing a shared operational definition for the purposes of measurement; to be aware of TFVAW in Asia and the Pacific region and beyond, through strengthened multistakeholder dialogues; and to exchange experiences, focusing on enhancing institutional capacities, improving data availability, and sharing insights on best practices. The Sixth Capital-Level Meeting of the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network: UN Women provided technical support to the Royal Thai Government (RTG)’s participation in the to the Sixth Capital-Level Meeting of the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network, which took place on October 21-22 in New York, United States, under the theme: “Reclaiming Women, Peace and Security: Defining a Path Forward.” The Permanent Mission of Thailand to the United Nations attended the meeting on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) which is the WPS Focal Point of the Royal Thai Government in coordination with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security (MSDHS) which is leading in the development and implementation of Women Peace and Security in Thailand. The RTG has increased its understanding on the advancemet of WPS agenda by developing and implementating WPS NAP. The Network meeting helped pave the way for a more robust and impactful WPS agenda, ensuring that women’s roles in peace and security are recognized, supported, and enhanced at national and local level.

A comprehensive and dynamic set of global norms, policies and standards on gender equality and women's empowerment is in place and is applied through action by Governments and other stakeholders at all levels

UN Women Thailand has collaborated closely with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security through various platforms to ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality into laws and policies. This partnership reflects a commitment to integrating gender perspectives across legal and policy frameworks, fostering a more inclusive and equitable societal landscape. Through collaborative efforts, both entities strive to enact positive change and promote gender-responsive approaches. Following the conclusion of Thailand's initial phase of the Women’s Development Action Plan 2020–2022 in 2022, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has recently introduced the Women’s Development Plan 2023-2027. This strategic initiative aims to operationalize gender strategies and position gender-related issues as a primary concern across all state agencies. The overarching vision is to ensure that women and girls have ample opportunities for comprehensive advancement, equitable treatment, and protection from all forms of violence in a society that prioritizes and comprehends gender equality. The plan comprises six key pillars to guide its implementation: (1) developing women’s human capital, (2) eliminating violence against women, (3) promoting women’s participation in decision-making, (4) engaging in public communication to foster social awareness, values, and belief systems supportive of gender equality, (5) creating management tools to empower and promote gender equality, and (6) enhancing the core capacity of the national women’s development mechanism. This comprehensive approach signifies a commitment to addressing various facets of gender inequality and promoting a more inclusive and equitable society. In 2023, UN Women Thailand continued its steadfast support for the Royal Thai Government's efforts to advance Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE), aligning with CEDAW, UNSCR 1325, and the localization of SDGs 5, 16, and 17. The impactful initiatives undertaken comprised a workshop in June 2023 focused on Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting for the Implementation of the WPS Agenda. With 35 participants from key national government organizations, including the Budget Bureau, Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Defense, Royal Thai Police, and others, the workshop equipped national authorities with essential knowledge and skills on Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB). Insights gained have been instrumental in advancing UN Women Thailand's support for a gender-responsive approach and GRB. Another set of three initiatives involved workshops for local authorities in the Northern Border provinces in August to promote Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment at the local level. These workshops aimed to raise awareness and build the capacity of local government authorities on gender mainstreaming. By integrating gender-responsive approaches into policies and strategies, the focus was on advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) while addressing Gender-based Violence (GBV)/violence against Women and girls (EVAWG). The participating local authorities, including Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security, Provincial Police, Governor/Provincial Office, and others, gained insights into good governance principles and the strategic role of gender-responsive budgeting/procurement. In addition to these initiatives, UN Women actively participated in the Sub-Committee on WPS as an expert, providing technical support on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Furthermore, UN Women supported the preparation of the 6th–7th combined report on the Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW Report), outlining Thailand’s progress from 2011 to 2023. Strategic partnerships at both national and local levels, including collaborations with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), and local women’s organizations, have been instrumental in promoting GEWE. Joint events, such as the International Women’s Day celebration and UN Women’s active participation in the Sub-Committee on the Selection of Outstanding Women on Women Equality, exemplify the commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment through tangible, result-oriented initiatives.

A comprehensive and dynamic set of global norms, policies and standards on gender equality and women's empowerment is in place and is applied through action by Governments and other stakeholders at all levels

Adopted through implementaion of the programm activites and establisment of SoP