PUBLISHED : 10 Mar 2025 at 06:07
A coalition dedicated to combating gender-based violence has issued a pressing warning regarding the surge in domestic violence cases across the nation. This urgent plea comes as advocates urge the government to enact vital legal reforms to effectively address the issue.
Varaporn Chamsanit, secretary-general of the Sexualities Studies Association and a representative of the Coalition Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Thailand, highlighted alarming statistics indicating that approximately 15,000 individuals each year require hospital treatment for injuries inflicted by domestic violence.
According to recent data from the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation, the media reported 1,086 cases in 2023, with a staggering 75% of these instances involving violent assaults or murders carried out by one spouse against another.
In cases involving unmarried couples, nearly 49% of reported incidents in 2023 related to violent acts, including assaults or murders executed with firearms.
Ms. Varaporn emphasized that the current legal framework is insufficient to effectively protect and support victims of domestic violence. She pointed out that significant loopholes in the anti-domestic violence law impede victim protection, including lenient penalties for offenders, an overemphasis on forced reconciliation, and ambiguous legal language that allows many perpetrators to escape prosecution.
Additionally, she criticized the lack of clear coordination among state agencies and insufficient resources allocated to support victims.
Despite the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security proposing amendments to the Victims of Domestic Violence Protection Act to broaden protections for victims, the coalition asserts that these proposed measures still contain critical deficiencies that must be rectified, according to Ms. Varaporn.
In light of these pressing concerns, the coalition is urging the government to amend the act by closing legal loopholes and enhancing its effectiveness in addressing domestic violence throughout the nation.
