Chiang Khong District in Chiang Rai Province is recognized as a leader in driving the development of district-level quality of life (QoL) initiatives. With a clear vision of creating a happy and sustainable society, the Chiang Khong QoL Committee has designed the “5 Heart Strategies: Quality of Life Connection” to meet the needs of all age groups, particularly women, who play a crucial role in social advancement.
The Situation of Women in Chiang Khong: Challenges and Opportunities
Women in Chiang Khong face numerous challenges across cultural, social, and economic dimensions, which impact their quality of life and potential for self-development. Notably, issues such as domestic violence remain significant problems that need to be addressed.
B.O.L.D. – Policy Project: Continuing Development for Women in Chiang Khong
Supported by the European Union (EU) through the Building Organisations & Local actors Dialogue (for) – Policy (B.O.L.D. – Policy) project, efforts are underway to promote development and strengthen the role of the QoL Committee in Chiang Khong. This initiative focuses on women’s quality of life through the “Happy Women” committee, which serves as the main mechanism for raising awareness and addressing women’s issues at the local level.
Lesson Learning: Finding Best Practices
One of the key activities under the B.O.L.D. – Policy project involves learning from the operations of the QoL Committee in Chiang Khong, particularly the “Happy Women” initiative, which drives work related to women’s issues in the area. This lesson-learning process aims to identify the best practices for dissemination and enhancement of work for QoL Committees in other target areas within Chiang Rai Province.
This lesson-learning activity not only reflects the successes and challenges faced by the “Happy Women” committee but also serves as a platform for exchanging knowledge between civil society organizations (CSOs) and local administrative groups (LAs) in developing capacity and promoting women’s work at the local level.
Preparation and Scaling Up
The lesson-learning and experience-sharing initiative began with preparations in the first year, where the project collaborated with the QoL Committee in Chiang Khong to gather essential information regarding the situation of women in the community, including the social, cultural, and economic challenges they face.
The operations of the “Happy Women” exemplify a significant model that can be used to drive similar strategies in other areas, particularly concerning the prevention and resolution of domestic violence and the promotion of women’s roles in the community.
“Happy Women” Strategy for a Sustainable Future
The anticipated outcomes of implementing the B.O.L.D. – Policy project, supported by the European Union, include the tangible promotion of gender-responsive policies. This involves reducing legal gaps and removing barriers that hinder women’s access to rights comprehensively. Additionally, it is expected that women will be empowered to confidently advocate for their rights and propose policy solutions to decision-makers, resulting in transformative changes that lead to the establishment of effective measures and support system for women affected by various forms of violence, including domestic violence.
Furthermore, the “Happy Women” committee will develop strategies to enable women to access their rights and fully realize their potential, while fostering collaboration with both public and private sector organizations to drive the sustainable success of these strategies.
Disclaimer: ‘This website 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.’
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Click the link below to learn more about B.O.L.D. – Policy project.
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