UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 66) Under the purview of the Ministry of Public Health, diverse measures to eliminate violence against women and domestic violence have been undertaken, such as: integrating WHO screening tools into hospital procedures to more effectively identify victims of violence; providing emergency shelters for women; promoting local networks to prevent and address violence against women; and establishing help centres at more than 899 hospitals nationwide. These centres provide care for victims of violence as well as preparedness and skills training to prevent sexual scams and harassment both in Thailand and abroad.
Para 69) In April 2020, the Cabinet approved additional measures to prevent and tackle sexual harassment in the workplace. The Department of Women's Affairs and Family Development is also conducting a thorough review of the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (1996) in order to amend the law to suit the modern context, through Focus Group discussions with children and youth, sex workers, relevant government agencies, women and mothers and others.
Para 70) During the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand implemented the “Stay Home, Stay Safe, For the Nation” campaign to contain the outbreak. It had the unintended consequence of preventing victims of domestic and gender-based violence from avoiding dangerous situations because they were not able to leave their residences during the Government imposed curfew and travel restrictions.
Para 71) In order to protect the welfare and safety of victims during COVID-19, a number of targeted measures were taken, including increasing personnel at social assistance centres. The Government also provided temporary shelters for victims and homeless single mothers, as well as vocational training at all eight Women and Family Development Learning Centres nationwide.
Para 72) Awareness raising is another important element in preventing violence against women in all settings. To this end, the TIJ, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General has published in Thai the Updated Model Strategies and Practical Measures on the Elimination of Violence against Women in the Field of Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

UN Compilation:
Para 46) [CEDAW] also remained concerned about the high prevalence of gender-based violence against women and girls, in particular domestic violence and sexual violence, and about the fact that the Domestic Violence Victim Protection Act of 2007 provided for the settlement of a case through reconciliation and mediation at every stage of the legal proceeding. It further remained concerned about the inadequate provision of essential services and support to victims of gender-based violence, especially victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation or labour exploitation, and victims of domestic violence.
Para 63) [CRPD] expressed concern about the situation of persons with disabilities living in poverty, who were often at risk of exploitation and abuse, including begging and trafficking in persons for purposes of labour and sexual exploitation, as well as about violence against and abuse of persons with disabilities, particularly girls and women with disabilities. It regretted the absence of a disability perspective in policies for protection from violence, abuse and exploitation.
Para 69) CEDAW also expressed concern about the situation of women migrant workers who were vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, in particular those who were undocumented.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 38) … JS25 highlighted that common challenges encountered by women workers, including migrant women, included discrimination on wages, occupational safety and health hazards, precarious work and gender-based harassment and violence.
Para 49) JS13 expressed concern by discrimination against women in employment and workplace, as well as rampant violence and abuse. …
Para 50) JS13 highlighted that gender-based violence was widespread, supported by stereotypical gender roles which remained strong and led to increasing violence. JS13 and SHero also described domestic violence as deep-rooted that was considered a private matter in Thai culture. Abuse and psychological, physical and/or sexual violence against women were reportedly rampant. Women faced stigmatization and victim-blaming, dismissal by authorities that promoted settlements between victims and perpetrators, an ineffective justice system and inadequate protection. JS13 reported a 34 per cent increase in domestic violence cases during the COVID19 lockdown. JS5 also noted the special vulnerability of indigenous women to violence, including sexual and domestic.
Para 60) JS13 and JS5 noted the severe challenges that indigenous women had in accessing their rights, as well as the multiple forms of discrimination on the grounds of indigeneity and gender within their communities and mainstream Thai society. It highlighted that they faced racial discrimination, exclusion from participation in public life, lack of access to healthcare and education and were vulnerable to human trafficking and domestic violence.
Para 68) … Malayu women were subjected to rape and sexual harassment by soldiers.

National Report:
Para 19) Since the first cycle review, a number of human rights related legislations has been passed or amended to further strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights. Some notable ones are as follows:
- The Amendment to the Criminal Code to criminalise child pornography (effective on 7 December 2015) aims at according more protection of children from a wider range of sexual exploitation, in compliance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Second Optional Protocol. The Amendment, for the first time in Thai law, gives definition to "child pornography" and takes into account the advanced technology of visual representation and the spread of child pornography on the internet.

National Report:
Para 78) The Women's Development Plan (2012%u20132016) has been developed, in line with the principles of relevant international human rights standards such as the CEDAW and the Beijing Declaration, to provide policy direction for the promotion and protection of women's rights as well as the empowerment of women in the society. To achieve these goals, the Plan identifies five strategies, namely (1) promote the positive attitudes towards gender equality, (2) develop women%u2019s capacity and opportunity, (3) promote women%u2019s health and reproductive health and rights, (4) promote women's participation in the politics, administration and decision-making process, and (5) enhance the capacity of mechanisms and women's organisations at all levels.
Para 79) The Government launched the Women's Development Fund in 2012 to enhance women's economic opportunities through a revolving fund for women's groups. The Fund also serves as a tool to promote women's leadership and management skills through women%u2019s empowerment projects.
Para 80) To further increase gender equality, since 2012, the Cabinet has approved paid leave of up to 15 days for male government officials whose wives have given birth. MOL has also worked to seek cooperation from the private sector to grant the same benefits of paternity leave to their male workers.

National Report:
Para 81) Thailand attaches importance to eliminating violence against women. Apart from the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence Act of 2007, additional legal measures have been adopted to further protect women. Recent developments are, among others, the Amendment to Article 397 of the Penal Code regarding the punishment of acts involving sexual harassment or intimidation both in public and domestic realms (effective in February 2015) and the measures to prevent and address sexual violations and harassment in the workplace (approved by the Cabinet in June 2015).