Question About Rape Victim

[Hobox]

I have a good Thai friend who was raped by a couple of thais and she is in bad need of some professional support and advice. One of the rapists got killed later the same week and now the police have given up on helping her and now focus on trying to connect her to the death of that man. She was beaten really badly by a police captain this night to force a confession from her. She just called me as she knows I have studied some law in Europe, but this is way above my tiny skills and so serious I don't really know where to ask.

Are there any support groups she can contact? Specialist lawyers?

Maybe this is the wrong section to post this in, but in that case please move it to the right one.

Edited March 23, 2007 by Hobox

[leisurely]

I am SO sorry for your friend. I don't know of any support groups for women who have been victims of sexual crime. I am puzzled by your post though. Why was your friend beaten by the police? What did they want her to confess to? I don't know any lawyers, let alone specialist ones but I do hope that someone posts one for you. Having just reread that, I seem to be no use to anyone! So, all I can do is send best wishes to your friend

Leisurely

[taxexile]

regarding the police assault , she could report her experience to one of the t.v programmes that deals with stories like this , or she could report it to the chief of police in bangkok , there is another thread running at the moment about a girl who was badly injured by the police and had to go to bangkok before anybody would take notice of her. he has ordered an investigation.

if she has been injured by the police , she should have her injuries photographed and get a medical report , in case evidence is required. once the bruises heal , there is no evidence.

the police here are a law unto themselves , and rape is often deemed to be the fault of the victim.

i hope your friend receives the justice and counselling she deserves , but i wouldnt be placing any bets on it.

[November Rain]

Leisurely, I believe from the OP that the police are now trying to fit her up for the murder of one of the rapists.

OP, sorry, again I don't know of any support groups. I did try to google it to see whether I could find anything that would be of any help. Under "rape crisis Bangkok" and "rape support groups Bangkok" there were no hits. I tried "rape Bangkok" to see if I could find any news stories that said something about support groups. 919 matches, virtually all to porn sites. What is the world coming to? Sorry, I couldn't be more help.

Edit: Just thought, if she phones the well woman clinic of a good hospital in your area, they might have contacts for rape support. I wish her luck & strength in getting through this

Edited March 24, 2007 by November Rain

[sutnyod]

I know what your friend is going through now. An additional problem here (as in many other places) is that she would not know what would happen if she went public. If the first priority for her is to find peace of mind and be among other women (many of whom are in similar circumstances), as well as receiving counselling, I would like to recommend the "We train" guesthouse near Don Muang. Just cross the road/s across Don Muang, grab a taxi and tell them to go to "We train". The compound is also very safe (apart from being quite and clean).

[StickKettleOn]

I am sure there is some kind of 'Womens Institute' around the National Stadium area. I have passed it a few times - sorry if this is vague, but it may be on Phetburi - where the very big Saim Coomercial Bank is (painted yellow, built out of teak) not too far from there.

[DragonQuest]

sad very sad, at least one of them died, he deserves it, as for the police beating thats messed up, sounds like shes getting raped by the cops too, im sure that happens a few times in thailand.

[Nienke]

I have a good Thai friend who was raped by a couple of thais and she is in bad need of some professional support and advice. One of the rapists got killed later the same week and now the police have given up on helping her and now focus on trying to connect her to the death of that man. She was beaten really badly by a police captain this night to force a confession from her. She just called me as she knows I have studied some law in Europe, but this is way above my tiny skills and so serious I don't really know where to ask.

Are there any support groups she can contact? Specialist lawyers?

Maybe this is the wrong section to post this in, but in that case please move it to the right one.

Hi,

What a horrible situation your friend is in.

Also I did some google-ing (words used are: sexual abuse women NGO Bangkok) and I came across the following sites, where you might get help:

* http://www.hotline.or.th/html/e-contact.htm (English/Thai).

* http://www.womenthai.org/eng/index.htm (English/Thai), Foundation For Women –based in Bangkok.

* http://www.marchemondiale.org/structure/cn...de/group2001/fr (French/English/Spanish)

Or if you google the following, you might get addresses and telephone numbers:

* Child and Woman Rights Protection Network,

* Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD),

* National Commission on Women's Affairs/Office of the National Commission on Women's Affairs (Thailand),

* Thai Women Watch,

* The National Council of Women of Thailand,

* Friends of Women Foundation

I wish you and your friend good luck,

Nienke

Edited March 24, 2007 by Nienke

[Sheryl]

Try the Friends of Women Foundation:

Friends of Women Foundation

218/16 Soi Pradipat 18, Phayathai Bangkok 10400 Thailand

Tel: 279-0867, 278-3551

OR (not sure which address is more current):

386/61-62, Soi Ratchadaphisek 44,

Ratchadaphisek Rd

Ladyao, Chatujak,

Bangkok 10900, Thailand

Tel: 66-2-5131001

Fax: 66-2-5131929

"The Women's Rights Protection Centre (WPRC) is a project of the Friends of Women Foundation (FOW) which aims to assist women victims of violence. The centre arranges social workers and lawyers to give counselling and legal assistance, and provides a safe haven for some abused women in need of shelter."

They have a very good reputation and specialize in this sort of thing.

My sympathies.

[Hobox]

Thank you to all your suggestions and help. I will print this out and give it to her. Sadly I think she is so terrified at the moment that she won't call, but I'll make a real effort to make sure she at least give each place a phone call.

Hopefully I can give you all an update at some later date. I'm only little bit worried that if I give out to many details and this story finally make the newspapers that she could be identified, so in that case I will try to keep it kind of fuzzy, if you get my point. Thanks again all!

---

With the help of your suggestions I found this web page:

http://www.unifem-eseasia.org/projects/eva...ngo/vamthai.htm

In case someone who reads this thread needs more phone numbers.

Edited March 25, 2007 by Hobox

[MiG16]

read this already after neinke and sheryl have already posted, so i hope your friend already has been able to reach one of them for help.

but just thought Id add a bit here to the other suggestions already mentioned:

the We train organisation is similar to this one below:

Association for the promotion of the status of women

Address: 501/1 Moo. 3, Dechatungka Rd., Donmueng, Bangkok 10210, Thailand

Tel (662) 9292088

Fax (662) 9292090

Contact: Dr. Suteera Thomson

E-mail: [email protected]

(that is...they are located in the same compound...so if your friend is in need of shelter....We Train provide that).

however Im not sure they are the group to help in terms of taking up the case against the police. The association might be a possibility. UNIFEM again will not do any active defending of the case.

a very good source to go to for that might be the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation. I was trying to do a google search for their contact...but wasnt good at that. maybe someone can do a better job of the search? she can also try getting the number from phone directory (#1133) I suggest this might be her best bet in taking up the case.

alternatively she may also approach the thai lawyers association to represent her case.

all the best.

EDIT: thought this link might be useful..... contacts for a number of women NGO and INGOs

Edited March 25, 2007 by MiG16

[Sheryl]

Thank you to all your suggestions and help. I will print this out and give it to her. Sadly I think she is so terrified at the moment that she won't call, but I'll make a real effort to make sure she at least give each place a phone call.

It is common for rape victims (even without the added trauma of police brutality) to be so traumatized that they can't seek help. It often depends upon concerned friends. If you can, physically bring her to FOW. They'll take it from there in seeing that she gets the pyschological and legal help she needs. Good luck.