The Beginning of the Cooperation Pathway of the Women’s Network from Three Regions: Northern, Northeastern, and Southern Thailand**
The story of cooperation among the women’s networks from three regions of Thailand—Southern (Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala, Chumphon), Northeastern (Maha Sarakham), and Northern (Chiang Rai)—began with the work in local areas by women’s groups. They believe that “every woman should have the opportunity to have a voice in decision-making and participate in the development of society.”
This cooperation is not only about expressing opinions but also about creating spaces for every woman to express themselves and move forward toward a common goal. It includes opportunities for women to participate in decision-making at all levels of social development.
Through the meeting between the networks from the Northern, Northeastern, and Southern regions, women shared knowledge from their diverse backgrounds and environments, exchanging ideas to find common ground in their journey along the network pathway, aiming to bring about a greater impact.
A Journey Not Without Challenges: The Challenges of Cooperation
The journey of cooperation has never been smooth! The first challenge that the women’s groups had to face was the differences in culture and working approaches. Adapting to diverse perspectives was no easy task. For some groups working in remote areas, there was a lack of both budget and resources to organize activities. Additionally, misunderstandings at times created challenges in communication and joint decision-making.
Pride in Achievements
Despite the challenges faced, one of the proudest successes of the women’s networks in each area is that women have been able to play a role in important decision-making processes within their communities. This includes participating in the development of policies that affect women’s rights and promoting women leaders within the community. This is considered a significant achievement because it means that women are not only the recipients of change, but also the drivers of that change.
Although some areas have not yet seen clear results, what is important is that the women’s groups have come together to build networks at the regional level and are moving forward to unite as a network across the three regions. This is a crucial step in expanding the scope of cooperation and ensuring that the voices of women are heard and recognized by policymakers at both the local and national levels.
Ongoing Obstacles
Despite many successes, the journey of cooperation still faces certain obstacles. For example, attracting participation from social groups that have yet to accept the role of women in leadership positions, or even internal conflicts within the women’s groups themselves due to differing perspectives. Additionally, access to the necessary resources to drive initiatives remains a challenge.
Conclusion of the Journey
To ensure that women’s voices are recognized and have more influence at the policy level, the steadfast determination and cooperation among women from the three regions will serve as an inspiration for all women to fight for their rights and work together to create a more equitable and sustainable society. This journey continues, and despite many obstacles, the dream of seeing women actively involved in the development of society and communities remains the driving force behind this collaboration, ensuring its growth and sustainability.
Disclaimer: This article is funded by the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Center for Girls Foundation and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.