COUNTRY POLICIES AND STRATEGIES FOR COMBATING GBV. Policies/ Plans. Development Plan in the 10th National Economic and Social Development Plan

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1 Thailand COUNTRY POLICIES AND STRATEGIES FOR COMBATING GBV Legal framework! The Protection of Domestic Violence Victims Act B.E. 55 (7) was announced in the Royal Gazette on August 14, 7, and was enacted on November 1, 7.! In 1999 the Cabinet Resolutions on 9 June 1999 endorsed eight measures to solve problems concerning violence against women, as proposed by NGOs through the National Commission on Women s Affairs (NCWA).! The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act was adopted in B.E. 551 (8).! The rape definition of Criminal Law was corrected in 8 to include charge on husband who rapes his wife. Prior to this, there was no charge on the husband who rapes his wife. Policies/ Plans! Thailand has adopted the 1th National Health Development Plan in the 1th National Economic and Social Development Plan B.E (7 11). The forms of violence addressed include domestic violence, and sexual harassment in the family, school and in the workplace.! Thailand has also adopted the Thai Women's Development Plan in the 1th National Economic and Social Development Plan B.E (7-11). The plan addresses violence against women in its 4th strategy: - Enhancing the security for women's life and body.! The National Plan for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children was developed in by the Thai National Commission on Women s Affairs. Strategies! The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has developed an integrated strategy to address violence against children and women in all forms.

2 Guidelines! The Guideline for Assisting Children and Women who are victims of violence was developed by the Ministry of Public Health (Office of the Permanent Secretary, Department of Mental Health, Department of Health Service Support), the Office of Women's Affairs and Family Development and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security for health professionals working in the One-Stop-Crisis Centres (OSCCs) all over the country. The guideline features flowcharts on steps for treating patients who are victims of violence. The revision of the guideline was completed in July 9 and the new version includes perpetrator initial psychoanalysis.! The Medico-Legal Guideline for rape examination in OSCC was developed in July 9. COUNTRY SITUATION OF GBV I. The Multi-country Study on Women s Health The salient findings were: and Domestic Violence against Women,! Prevalence of lifetime violence (physical supported by the World Health Organization violence) by the husband ranged from 3% to carried out a cross-sectional survey of women 34% among ever-partnered women and aged years in the capital city Bangkok prevalence of lifetime sexual violence was and in a rural town, Nakhonsawan. A total of 1 about 3%. (Figure 1) 1536 interviewees from Bangkok and a total of 18 interviewees from Nakhonsawan! Prevalence of current physical violence (in the were interviewed. 1 past 1 months) ranged from 8% to 13% and prevalence of current sexual violence (in the 1 past 1 months) was around 17%. (Figure 1) Percentage Lifetime violence Bangkok [n=1536] Lifetime violence Nakhonsawan [n=18] Current violence Bangkok [n=1536] Current violence Nakhonsawan [n=18] Physical violence Sexual violence Physical or sexual viloence, or both Figure 1: Percentage of women who experienced violence by an intimate partner, among ever-partnered women aged years, Thailand, 5 1 Country Findings. Thailand. WHO Multi-country study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women. WHO 5

3 Physical violence meant the woman had been: II. Cases of Gender-Based Violence at One-Stopslapped, or had something thrown at her; pushed or Crisis Centres (OSCCs). Thailand's Bureau of shoved; hit with a fist or something else that could Health Service System Development, hurt; kicked, dragged or beaten up; choked or Department of Health Service Support, which burnt; threatened with or had a weapon used oversaw information systems of the hospitalagainst her. based OSCC until the end of 9 revealed a Sexual violence meant the woman had: been very significant increase in the number of physically forced to have sexual intercourse; had children and women reporting with violence at sexual intercourse because she was afraid of what the OSCC from 3 to 8. (Figure 1) her partner might do; been forced to do something Salient findings: sexual she found degrading or humiliating.! The number of children and women reporting Ever-partnered meant only women who had ever with violence at OSCCs has increased sharply been married. from 4 to 8. This could be due to Source: WHO multi-country study on women's increased detection of GBV victims as a result health and domestic violence against women: of introduction of OSCCs/shelters/ facilities summary report of initial results on prevalence, for victims of GBV, better data collection health outcomes and women's responses. WHO system at hospitals/ngos/other centres or geneva, 5. due to increase in GBV in the community.! But there seems to be a declining trend in the number of cases in 9 (3,511 cases) and 1 (5767 cases), reported with the recent updated data from the Ministry of Public 1 Health, Thailand. 3, 6,565 5, 5767, 19, Numbers 15, 1, 11,54 14,38 5, 6,951 1, Figure : Number of children and women reporting with violence at OSCC, Thailand (3-1) Source: Bureau of Health Service System Development, Dec 9 Bureau of Health Service System Development, cases of gender based violence at one-stop crises centres, 9. 3

4 1 Gender-based Violence cases OSCC Hospitals, Thailand 4-8 Numbers of Hospitals Cases X 1 Hospitals Cases x 1 % Trend Year Figure 3: Gender Based Violence cases in OSCC Hospitals, Thailand, (4-8) III. The statistics of the Royal Thai Police from 1997 to 7 indicate that sexual violence is increasing over time. In 7, there were 569 reported cases of sexual crimes (rape, sexual assault), which on 3 average means 14 people, or one every 15 minutes was raped every day. (Figure 4) cases 6 percent Police reports arrested % arrested 1 Year Figure 4: Number of reported sexual abuse cases and the percentage of arrests. (1997-7) Source: Thai Health 9: Stop Violence for Well-being of Mankind. 1 Health Indicators 1 Health Issues. Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University. Thai Health Promotion Foundation. National Health Commission Office of Thailand 3 Thai Health 9: Stop Violence for Well-being of Mankind. 1 Health Indicators. 1 Health Issues. Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University. Thai Health Promotion Foundation. National Health Commission Office of Thailand 4

5 IV. The Institute for Population and Social including rape (38 %), other forms of sexual Research, Mahidol University carried out a violence i.e. prostitution, women trafficking survey and analysis of news reports and and deception (6%) and abortion (5%). articles in collaboration with the Women's! Most of the raped victims were girls under 18 Health Advocacy Foundation with support years of age. from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation. It concluded that sexual violence in Thai! Most of the rapes were committed by fathers, society has increased both in quantity and in step-fathers or teachers. In 6% of the rape 3 the level of severity. cases, the rapists were known by the victims such as friends, teachers, and neighbours. (Figure 5) Salient findings:! Between 1998 and 7, there were 1759 reported cases about sex in newspapers and on the Internet.! From the 1759 cases the most reported story about sex was about sexual violence,! In a quarter of the cases the rapists were strangers, while there was no information indicating who the rapist was in 7 percent of the cases. (Figure 5) 7.56% 7% 7.34% 7% 5.9% 4.3 % 46.36% 1.6% 6% 6%.7% 5.3% 7.5% 1.16% Known Person Unknown person No information Relative Husband Friend Father Step-Father/Step-Mother Adoptive Parent Neighbour Employee Boy-freind Patron Mother Children Sibling Emloyer Figure 5:Relation between the rapists and the victims reported in the mass media, Thailand, 3-7 [n=1379] Figure 6: Perpetrators of gender based violence Cases reported more than once were excluded. Source: Thai Health 9: Stop Violence for Well-being of Mankind. 1 Health Indicators 1 Health Issues. Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University. Thai Health Promotion Foundation. National Health Commission Office of Thailand. 5

6 Types of GBV! GBV is present in physical, psychological, sexual, emotional and economic forms. In 1 incidents of physical violence were 74 %, psychological 5%, sexual 18%, neglect %, and force/seduce 1%. % 1% 18% 5% 74% Physical violence Mental violence Sexual violence Neglect Force/Seduction Figure 7: Types of gender-base a violence COUNTRY ACTIVITIES IN COMBATING GBV GWH-SEARO conducted a survey in October questionnaire containing 3 questions under 4 9 among the gender focal points in the WHO clusters. The findings of the survey for Thailand Country Offices of Member Countries using a are listed below. Scale * Legislations/Polices/ Programmes Resources Research Evidence ** Country situation Total no. of indicator Figure 8: Country Activities in Combating Gender-Based Violence in Thailand, 9 * The scale represents the country-specific programmes () resource (3) research and (4) situation plotted against the maximum rating from evidence 4 clusters of indicators: (1) legislation/ policies/ ** A lower score reflects lower evidence of GBV 6

7 S.No. Category Activities 1. Legislation/policies and The country has legislation on GBV, a national action plan, programmes on GBV health policy and multisectoral action plan on GBV.. Resources for combating The country has a rich resource for combating GBV. GBV The following resources are available:! Specific guidelines, workshops and trainings for health providers.! Activities on gender mainstreaming for prevention of GBV.! Use of One-Stop Crisis Centre services (OSCC).! Data collection system for GBV at hospitals and social support centers.! IEC materials on GBV for health providers and communities.! Facilities for helping the victims of GBV in the police stations, social support groups, shelter homes, counselling centres, community leaders' groups and self-help groups.! Budget allocation for GBV. 3. Research on GBV The country has given full compliance to five typical activities: (1) research on the cause, consequences and costs for GBV () findings on GBV (3) findings on types of GBV (4) findings related to the cause of GBV and (5) findings related to women's health due to GBV. _ 4. Evidence on GBV GBV is present in <15 year-olds and in > 15 year-olds. Additional Information Causes of GBV Findings related to women's health after GBV Age of GBV victims Victims of GBV! GBV in less than 15 year-olds exists in physical, psychological, sexual, emotional! Spouse and family members have been found and economic forms. to be the victims of GBV.! Increasing participation of women in the public arena, joblessness, jealousy, dowryrelated issues, communication gap and customs have been found to be the causes of GBV.! Mental disturbances, attempts at suicide, disability and death have been found to be the findings related to women's health after GBV. _! GBV affects women of > 15 years in age in physical, psychological, sexual, emotional and economic forms. 7

8 Partnership in Combating GBV Government initiatives! The National Commission on Women s Affairs (NCWA) has played an instrumental role in drafting the domestic violence bill in 3 which was subsequently enacted in 7.! The Royal Thai Police place emphasis on domestic violence. Centres for the protection of children, youth, and women within the police department provide service to victims of GBV. Training has been carried out for police and law enforcement officers on issues related to GBV.! One-stop-crisis centres (OSCC) have been established in hospitals in Bangkok and Civil society organization initiatives provincial areas of Thailand. The OSCC have! Various NGOs such as the Association for the been implemented in 5 regional hospitals and Promotion of the Status of Women, Family 69 general hospitals. The Ministry of Public Planning Association of Thailand, Sahathai Health is expanding the OSCCs and it is Foundation, Friends of Women Foundation, planned that by 14 there will one such centre Hotline Centre Foundation, the Foundation for in each government hospital throughout the Women, etc. have provided services for GBV country. This will include such centres in 79 victims including shelters and counselling. community hospitals, and in 976 community The Friend of Woman Foundation, Woman health centres. Foundation and the Emergency Shelter under! The Ministry of Social Development and The Association for the Promotion of the Human Security provides a 4-hour hotline Status of Women also provide legal staffed by social workers and psychologists. It consultation. has set up a Community-Based Family! Academic institutions like the Centre for Development Centre since 3. It also Health Policy Studies of Mahidol University provides social services including shelters and have been involved in developing models of occupational rehabilitation and Women s Aid community-based intervention on domestic and Career Training Centres. violence.! The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration! Assumption University has created a website administers a Centre for the Protection of providing information on violence against Children s, Youths and Women s Rights and a women. Thailand's nation-wide "Say No to hotline service. In addition, each district office Violence" Campaign, is a part of the provides inspectors for women s and international Say No to Violence' campaign children s security, including a complaint and has provided a crucial basis for promoting centre that works cooperatively with the local effective cooperation for more substantive police, hospitals and other service units. work to end violence against women. Country Contact Information: Dr Nima Asgari WHO Country Office, Thailand asgarin@searo.who.int Produced by: Gender, Women and Health (GWH) Department of Family Health and Research World Health Organization, Regional Office for South-East Asia World Health House, Indraprastha Estate Mahatma Gandhi Marg, New Delhi-11 Phone: , Ext 631 Fax: , , suchaxayp@searo.who.int