A coalition dedicated to combating gender-based violence has voiced alarm over the rising cases of domestic violence in Thailand, urging the government to enact stronger legal protections for victims.
Varaporn Chamsanit, Secretary General of the Sexualities Studies Association and representative of the Coalition Against Gender-Based Violence Thailand, reported that approximately 15,000 individuals require hospital treatment each year due to domestic violence-related injuries.
Data from the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation revealed that 1,086 cases of domestic violence were reported in the media in 2023. Among these, 75% involved assaults or murders committed by one spouse against the other. Additionally, in cases involving unmarried couples, 49% included incidents where a firearm was used against a partner.
Varaporn stressed that current legal protections for victims remain inadequate. Despite the severity of the issue, existing laws contain loopholes that hinder effective victim support. These include lenient penalties for offenders, a reconciliation-focused approach that often does not serve victims’ best interests, and legal ambiguities that allow perpetrators to evade prosecution. She further pointed out the lack of coordination among state agencies and insufficient resources available to support victims, as reported by the Bangkok Post.
The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has introduced proposed amendments to the Victims of Domestic Violence Protection Act to enhance victim protection. However, the coalition believes these amendments fall short and is calling for further revisions to ensure the law is more effective in addressing domestic violence cases.
This issue also brings attention to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s efforts to tackle violence against women and children. In November 2024, as part of the government’s annual anti-violence campaign coinciding with National Violence Elimination Against Children and Women Month, she reaffirmed her support for initiatives aimed at addressing the crisis.
The Bangkok-born prime minister recognized that domestic violence—both physical and psychological—continues to be a growing concern. She emphasized that the lack of social intervention allows such violence to persist and stressed that it should be regarded as a societal problem rather than a private matter.
