Rights activists push for ban on death sentences for female convicts

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation 

 

FILE photo

 

HUMAN RIGHTS defenders are calling for an end to capital punishment for women as a next step forward to achieving the universal abolition of death sentences in Thailand.

 

A public forum hosted by the Union for Civil Liberty (UCL) on Monday discussed a proposal to ban the death sentence for female inmates in Thailand, and concluded that executing women is not only ineffective in suppressing crimes but also contributes to additional social problems.

 

Assoc Professor Gothom Arya, director of Mahidol University’s Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, has pushed for the abolishment of capital punishment for all convicts, but acknowledged strong public opinion in favour of retaining the sentence.

 

A gradual step-by-step approach to abolition would better suit the country, Gothom suggested, adding that it is more practical than going against majority public opinion and abolishing it in one move. 

 

“Thailand has already abolished death sentence for pregnant women and youth, so it appears the next step would be to officially end the execution of female convicts,” he said.

 

“We need a new round of legislative reforms that abolishes the execution of women, just like our current law prohibits the execution of pregnant women and youth.”

 

In addition to an active campaign for legislative reform, he emphasised that human-rights defenders must work on raising public awareness so society can understand the flaws of capital punishment.

 

Though the execution of women is not common in Thailand – with only three female convicts executed since 1932, with the last being put to death 19 years ago – it is believed neither male nor female convicts are safe from capital punishment under the current political climate. 

 

Last year Thailand was on the verge of being recognised for not carrying out a death sentence for 10 consecutive years. Despite capital punishment still being meted out by judges, no convict had been put to death in Thailand since 2009. However, this record was broken when the authorities executed a 26-year-old male convict on June 18, 2018.

 

 

Most countries have stopped carrying out the death sentence. The UCL has been campaigning against capital punishment, as this unacceptable practice is in direct conflict with the basic principles of human rights. The group said Thailand will ultimately find it impossible to go against the global trend. 

 

Also, the UCL noted that putting female convicts to death has proved to be ineffective in maintaining justice in society and has 

 led to tougher social problems.

 

Angkhana Neelapaijit, a National Human Rights Commissioner (NHRC), noted that studies on the statistics and backgrounds of female prisoners in Thailand have found that most were sentenced for crimes related to domestic violence and narcotics.

 

“These crimes were not caused by personal wickedness. Instead, these women were forced by the circumstances, their environment and problems in our social structure to commit these crimes. So killing these women will not solve the problem,” she said.

 

Hence, she said, the authorities should change their attitude toward the corrections system and prioritise treatment for the wrongdoers and turn them into good citizens, instead of punishing them severely for their crimes. 

 

Human-rights lawyer Natthasiri Bergman emphasised that many women behind bars were breadwinners and mothers, so locking them away or putting them to death greatly affects their families. 

 

Natthasiri also cautioned that keeping these women away from their children forces the young ones to grow without maternal care. 

 

“The impact from the absence of a mother is significant, and can contribute to more crimes, violence and other social problems in the future,” she added.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30362309

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-01-16

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

A public forum hosted by the Union for Civil Liberty (UCL) on Monday discussed a proposal to ban the death sentence for female inmates in Thailand, and concluded that executing women is not only ineffective in suppressing crimes but also contributes to additional social problems.

What a load of sexist rubbish. Change the genders in this statement and wait for the uproar. If they want to stop the death sentence then make it for everyone without the sexist clap=trap. There is plenty of backing for banning the death sentence, make you arguments stand on their merit.

Someone should talk to the feminists who insist women are equal in any way. And all the quotas that women must at least be 50% of this and that.

If they are criminals and are convicted why shouldn't they get the same punishment like men? Because they are nice and innocent women? 555

I thought women were second class citizens in Thailand, universally discriminated against in all areas of life except when married to farangs where Thai courts always find in their favour?

Thailands toxic air is a death sentence for every innocent man woman and child...

30 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Someone should talk to the feminists who insist women are equal in any way. And all the quotas that women must at least be 50% of this and that.

If they are criminals and are convicted why shouldn't they get the same punishment like men? Because they are nice and innocent women? 555

I was going to write that if women are so equal to men they should also work in construction, but they do that a lot in Thailand....so why can't the Western women work in construction as well?

2 hours ago, webfact said:

HUMAN RIGHTS defenders are calling for an end to capital punishment for women

Remove the last two words and I totally agree.????

Outrageous sexism at work from the 'activist' community.

equal crime = equal punishment.

DO THE CRIME....PAY THE FINE !

String ‘em up, zap ‘em, lop their heads off, Shoot ‘em or if you want to be 

“NICE,” give them THE NEEDLE !

 

These convicted, useless bags of puke who’ve murdered others deserve to forfeit their own life ...pretty simple and straight forward really so spare us the Wailing, Gnashing Of Teeth and general Belly Aching.

Why just females, is a woman's life worth more than a man

22 minutes ago, wendyfromoz said:

Why just females, is a woman's life worth more than a man

That obviously depends on the individual woman. If they are old and ugly then punish them. If they are young and pretty maybe give them a 2nd chance. ???? 

5 hours ago, fruitman said:

I was going to write that if women are so equal to men they should also work in construction, but they do that a lot in Thailand....so why can't the Western women work in construction as well?

Not sure which Western country you are referring to but in North America, women work in construction. 

And they drive trucks, operate heavy equipment, fly airplanes, drive big buses .... . They do everything a man does except pee standing up. 

8 hours ago, Torrens54 said:

DO THE CRIME....PAY THE FINE !

String ‘em up, zap ‘em, lop their heads off, Shoot ‘em or if you want to be 

“NICE,” give them THE NEEDLE !

 

These convicted, useless bags of puke who’ve murdered others deserve to forfeit their own life ...pretty simple and straight forward really so spare us the Wailing, Gnashing Of Teeth and general Belly Aching.

And you include the Burmese 2 in this statement, and maybe a few more inmates sitting in death row with dodgy convictions

A justice system where you have to prove your innocence probably shouldn't have capital punishment! Not mentioning any names of course.

Are these the same nutters who campaign for equal rights for women?

1 hour ago, Thechook said:

Are these the same nutters who campaign for equal rights for women?

very good question !

The Law is the Law of the land.

If you don’t like it, no one is forcing you to stay....Bye, bye!

On 1/18/2019 at 10:08 AM, Torrens54 said:

The Law is the Law of the land.

If you don’t like it, no one is forcing you to stay....Bye, bye!

Oh no! Not that old chestnut again.  It has been worked to death by now.

On 1/18/2019 at 10:08 AM, Torrens54 said:

The Law is the Law of the land.

If you don’t like it, no one is forcing you to stay....Bye, bye!

Not entirely true, we're talking about a Thai issue here, it affects pretty much only Thais.

 

If you don't like the law any more then you change it. It's what parliaments do.

On 1/16/2019 at 12:52 PM, neeray said:

Not sure which Western country you are referring to but in North America, women work in construction. 

And they drive trucks, operate heavy equipment, fly airplanes, drive big buses .... . They do everything a man does except pee standing up. 

Re everything except; They can do that too, but it gets messy quite fast ????

Men deserve to die because of their toxic masculinity. This should be carried out with a Gillette blade.

On 1/16/2019 at 7:09 AM, fruitman said:

I was going to write that if women are so equal to men they should also work in construction, but they do that a lot in Thailand....so why can't the Western women work in construction as well?

It would probably burn more calories than they have grown accustomed to watching daytime TV... 

 

 

On 1/20/2019 at 11:03 PM, ukrules said:

Not entirely true, we're talking about a Thai issue here, it affects pretty much only Thais.

 

If you don't like the law any more then you change it. It's what parliaments do.

Obviously but the same would/should apply to anyone living in or visiting Thailand.

On 1/16/2019 at 12:52 PM, neeray said:

Not sure which Western country you are referring to but in North America, women work in construction. 

And they drive trucks, operate heavy equipment, fly airplanes, drive big buses .... . They do everything a man does except pee standing up. 

many can and do pee standing up. 

 

Women don't need a widget to pee standing up. Just the will to do it , and practice.

 

But why no death penalty for woman? i thought they wanted to be equal.

On 1/20/2019 at 11:03 PM, ukrules said:

Not entirely true, we're talking about a Thai issue here, it affects pretty much only Thais.

 

If you don't like the law any more then you change it. It's what parliaments do.

 

On 1/22/2019 at 6:53 PM, Torrens54 said:

Obviously but the same would/should apply to anyone living in or visiting Thailand.

Great ! 

I’ll look forward to your report on how you were accepted at the Polling Place when you go to lodge your vote.