Thai activists: Stop publishing photographs of domestic-abuse victims

[webfact]

'Stop revealing details of victims'
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Rights activists are calling on the media to stop revealing details and publishing photographs of domestic-abuse victims as it is a clear violation of their rights.

Somchai Charoenamnuaysuk, director of the Office of the Women Affairs and Family Institution said the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence 2007 Act stipulated that the identity of victims and their home addresses should not be revealed as they and their families will continue suffering. He was speaking at a seminar held jointly by the Social Development and Human Security Ministry and the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation yesterday.

"They are already in a desperate state and should not be made to answer personal questions, which will put them in an even more uncomfortable position in front of others," he said.

Worapat Saengkaew, chief of the one-stop crisis centre at the Pathum Thani Provincial Hospital, said in many cases it was the relatives who wanted the press to reveal details about the victim's plight in the hope that the state would take action. However, they don't realise that they are adding salt to injury, he said.

"Most victims of sexual assault or domestic violence do not want to expose their plight, so the press should be cautious when covering their cases," she said.

Lawyers at the seminar said victims could file both civil and criminal suits against the press, saying that in developed countries, the media was not allowed to carry out such practices.

Supensri Pungkoksung, an official at the foundation, said the Social Development and Human Security Ministry had opened the 24-hour 1300 hotline to help victims, but there were few people on the other side who understood their work. They need to undergo training on how best to provide assistance to the victims. Also, those who ignore cases should face disciplinary punishment, she said.

Supensri said newly appointed Social Development and Human Security Minister Pavena Hongsakul had shown vision when delivering her policies to ministry officials, but she has to ensure that her subordinates share her vision

Pavena has long been running the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women to help victims of forced prostitution, rape, torture and other types of abuse.


-- The Nation 2013-07-05

[Katipo]

Completely and totally agree.

[Bluespunk]

Stop publishing the names and pictures of all victims of crime. And as for the pictures of the dead and dying, show some respect.

[greg71]

"Lawyers at the seminar said victims could file both civil and criminal suits against the press, saying that in developed countries, the media was not allowed to carry out such practices" .Well this is Thailand where no such laws exist..Yes its a terrible practice but neither is showing kids who have been victimized .Every one is fair game here ,innocent , the guilty or the abused.

[arthurboy]

This is a very welcome report.

Please read this from the Trafficking in Persons Report 2013, and yes, I know we have been here before on others threads.

'The government did not ensure that child victims’ rights were protected; in a highly-publicized case of a 12-year-old Karen girl who had been enslaved in a Thai couple’s home for five years, police officials allowed media outlets to publish the girl’s name and take semi-nude photos of her while in police custody.'

http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/210742.pdf

And elsewhere, I see that the police believe - among other things - that the ongoing reenactment circus is useful because it will deter others from committing crime.

Let's hope Pavena can finally get something done about this whole issue.

[worgeordie]

Don't show pictures ,don't talk about it,don't even think about it,

I am am sure that will solve the problem,the head in the sand

approach .

Regards Worgeordie

[belg]

so a law from 2007 cannot be respected

why anybody thinks this kind of reporting will stop

TV can start by showing the example and not moneytising other peopel's articles where victims are show with picture and full address

change start with yourself

[Bluespunk]

Moneytising?

[Kananga]

Moneytising?

I would guess he mean't profiting.

[GeorgeO]

I refer here to my earlier post regarding the Russian woman found wandering around half-naked in the woods in Pattaya ...

Posted 2013-06-27 16:55:30

Chaam local, on 27 Jun 2013 - 14:26, said:

I think it's a shame that her pictures were published. What if she was drugged and raped? Whatever happened to her, she doesn't deserve to be exposed like this. Good that she didn't give her name, or else you would also publish it, along with a picture of her passport maybe.

I agree. I think it's a disgrace that innocent victims, and those whose circumstances have not been established, find their names (and even addresses) published, not only in the media, but also here on TV. At the very least, these details should be blanked out before being reported here.

When I was working within the legal system in the UK, I would have been crucified if I had divulged the personal details of any such victims!

[nami]

Double standards. Victims details should not be disclosed, as shouldn't be the photos of alleged suspects. We all like to watch those pics but imagine yourself pictured on the news as a horriblr criminal just because of a wrong accusation or a mistake.

[Bluespunk]

Double standards. Victims details should not be disclosed, as shouldn't be the photos of alleged suspects. We all like to watch those pics but imagine yourself pictured on the news as a horriblr criminal just because of a wrong accusation or a mistake.

Totally agree.

[Emdog]

"They are already in a desperate state and should not be made to answer personal questions, which will put them in an even more uncomfortable position in front of others," Perhaps they took a page from police reenactments? If any photos are posted, they should be of the perp, not the victim. Which they shouldn't but in spite of vaunted hospitality and politeness of Thais, many in positions of power and influence are clueless.

[chinostar]

Sensational news sells and we buy it. As long as the media publishes these kind of reports including pictures for commercial purposes we should stop buying, reading and post them on social media forums.

The readers are just as guilty.