87 cases of sexual violence reported per day in Thailand

[webfact]

Statistic: 87 Cases Of Sexual Violence Reported Per Day
By Khaosod English


A suspect shows the police the spot where he allegedly raped and murdered a 6 year old girl, 17 December 2013. His alleged crime is among more than 31,000 cases of sexual violence reported in 2013.

BANGKOK: -- An average of 87 cases of sexual violence are reported each day in Thailand - one case per every 15 minutes - according to newly unveiled statistics.

The report was released in a press conference co-hosted by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation (WMP) this morning.

Ms. Yanee Lertkrai, director of the Department of Social Development and Welfare, said the authorities recorded at least 31,866 cases of sexual violence throughout 2013. The vast majority of the victims are women and children, she added.

The youngest victim of sexual violence in the official records is a 1 year 9 months old girl, the oldest is a 85 years-old woman, Ms. Yanee said, while the youngest perpetrator in sexual violence is a 10 year old boy who participated in a gang rape.

Ms. Charee Srisawat, a representative of the WMP, said her agency conducted their research based on news about sexual violence reported by five Thai newspapers - Thai Rath, Daily News, Kom Chad Luek, Khaosod, and Matichon - throughout 2013 and discovered that rape is the most common form of sexual violence, amounting to 51.5% of all cases.

Molestation and attempted rapes make up 17.1% and 13.6% of the cases, respectively, Ms. Charee said. Sexual violence against men is rare, but not completely unknown, accounting for 4.7% of all cases.

Data also shows that 22 women have lost their lives due to rape.

According to the statistics, 47.5% of all perpetrators in sexual violence are strangers, 41.8% are individuals who personally know the victims, 5.6% are close relatives, and 5.1% are individuals the victims have met on social network sites.

Students and pupils make up the biggest bulk - 59.2% - of sexual violence victims, followed by young children, 6.6%, Ms. Charee said. As for the occupation of the perpetrators, 19.2% of all cases were committed by hired employees, 14.3% by the unemployed, 12.8% by students, 8.5% by teachers, and 7.8% by taxi or public van drivers.

Most of the cases - 26.6% - are reported to have taken place in the Bangkok area alone.

Compared with previous years, 2013 sees a slight rise in sexual violence incidents, Ms. Charee said. She warned that actual number of the cases could be much higher, since some victims might have been too embarrassed or intimidated to report the assaults.

Ms. Yanee, the Ministry official, vowed to tackle widespread sexual abuse, stating that the Ministry established a special unit to aid those who have been subject to sexual violence in April 2013.

However, she admitted that efforts are far from satisfactory. Much of the laws enforcement mechanism is biased toward sexual violence perpetrators, Ms. Yanee complained, such as the tendency to persuade the victims to settle the matters outside the court.

"There are even some victims who said they filed complaint with the police - only to be told by officers at the stations that they are too busy because of the political unrest" Ms. Yanee said, "The victims were simply told to wait".

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1395313389&typecate=06&section=


-- Khaosod English 2014-03-21

[webfact]

About 87 sex-abuse cases reported daily
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Women and children reported sexual abuse or sought counselling at a daily rate of 87 last year - with most offenders close to the victim, according to a Public Health Ministry counselling service. The information was revealed at a Bangkok seminar yesterday.

A child and a woman were violated every 15 minutes, said Suphensri Phuengkhoksoong, a senior official at the Social Development and Human Security Ministry, said there were 31,866 cases last year, though not all were reported to the centre.

She said 261 people received counselling from the 358 cases pursued by the centre for legal, social or psychiatric reasons.

The alleged offenders were mostly educated people, and the slow legal process or legal loopholes delayed cases while a lack of corporate funding made it difficult to bring sex offenders

"who preyed on female colleagues at work" to justice.

Police 'turning down complaints'

In many cases police refused to accept complaints by victims, citing political instability as the reason, and corporate mechanisms to protect female office workers were lax.

A senior official with the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation, Jaree Srisawas, said 169 sex crimes against men were reported in five Thai-language dailies last year, with 51 per cent involving rape.

The other 223 sex crimes covered in the newspapers included molestation, attempted rape and statutory rape, with 29 people murdered.

Jaree said the factors leading people to commit sex crimes included alcohol, intolerance to self-sexual urges, and consequent crimes occurring after robbery.

The youngest victim was aged one year and nine months and oldest was 85, while the youngest offender was a 10-year-old boy who took part in a gang-rape and the oldest was an 85-year-old man who molested a young girl.


-- The Nation 2014-03-21

[smedly]

sad very sad indeed - these evil people are all over the world not just Thailand but that statistic is rather shocking

[Tatsujin]

Those are quite shocking statistics in a country that purportedly follows the teachings of Buddha.

[uptheos]

"In many cases police refused to accept complaints by victims, citing political instability as the reason",

So, it's actually quite a lot more than 87 a day?

[Yunla]

And this data does not cover the huge number of women and children who are too afraid to report the crimes committed against them, out of shame, obedience or fear - or a combination of all three. When you are severely traumatised you often stop acting rationally, and start fearing everybody - including the agencies who are there to help you. This problem is global, although I feel that in countries where confidence in the authorities is low, this problem is much worse.

Sexual assault of a child should carry a mandatory life sentence, life meaning life, and this should only be handed down when the evidence is as clear-cut as possible. I am at my most hard-line on this issue, I don't believe in second chances or forgiveness for this particular crime. Rape of adults should also carry heavy sentences, again following a fair trial with sufficient evidence. In all cases the victims should be offered extensive counselling, and assistance with relocation if they want this.

[uty6543]

Those are quite shocking statistics in a country that purportedly follows the teachings of Buddha.

Does anyone think this has anything to do with the religion practiced here. This is more to do with Thai men's lack of respect for women.

[uptheos]

Those are quite shocking statistics in a country that purportedly follows the teachings of Buddha.

Does anyone think this has anything to do with the religion practiced here. This is more to do with Thai men's lack of respect for women.

The only thing it has do to with the religion practiced here, is that if it WERE practiced here these statistics might be a great deal less.

[Tatsujin]

Those are quite shocking statistics in a country that purportedly follows the teachings of Buddha.

Does anyone think this has anything to do with the religion practiced here. This is more to do with Thai men's lack of respect for women.

The only thing it has do to with the religion practiced here, is that if it WERE practiced here these statistics might be a great deal less.

Thank you, you saved me writing a scathing reply to uty6543 ...

[Borzandy]

Those are quite shocking statistics in a country that purportedly follows the teachings of Buddha.

Does anyone think this has anything to do with the religion practiced here. This is more to do with Thai men's lack of respect for women.

This is more to do with Thai men's lack of respect for women. Yes and no punishment

[expat888]

Those are quite shocking statistics in a country that purportedly follows the teachings of Buddha.

Does anyone think this has anything to do with the religion practiced here. This is more to do with Thai men's lack of respect for women.

I don't think it has anything to do with men not having respect for women. I believe Thai men think they are lord of their domain and they can do whatever they want. It's taught to them as children. Women just happen to get in the way of what they want and that can include any of us male or female.

[expat888]

What amazes me is the amount of confessions in this country. Possibly they know nothing will happen to them?

[ebean001]

The Thai men seems to have the lowest self-esteem than most men in the world.

the women are not far behind.

I actually thought 87 was a low number. Still do. How many go unreported. 5x, 10x, 100x. Surely it is a lot bigger.

Just for comparison, sexual violence is reported every 2 minutes in USA.

[uty6543]

Those are quite shocking statistics in a country that purportedly follows the teachings of Buddha.

Does anyone think this has anything to do with the religion practiced here. This is more to do with Thai men's lack of respect for women.

The only thing it has do to with the religion practiced here, is that if it WERE practiced here these statistics might be a great deal less.

Thank you, you saved me writing a scathing reply to uty6543 ...

And if Christianity was practiced in our countries we would not have sexual violence? Think about catholic priests. Tatsujin don't be shy reply but just keep it polite. Maybe I will realize I am wrong and understand your point of view.

[PaulHamon]

"Data also shows that 22 women have lost their lives due to rape."

would that not then be murder?

[Lupatria]

I personally became aware of two cases of rape in Isaan:

A 14 year old girl (virgin) was raped by a 16 year old boy. He committed the rape. His and his parent’s statement to the police: “If the family of the victim withdraws the rape report, the boy is willing to marry the girl…

A 70 year old widower brutally raped a heavily retarded girl in the same village. A police report was made and he denied the rape. The hospital doctors and a psychologist confirmed the girl was raped but the doctors refused to take DNA samples. Later the son of the rapist threatened the victim’s family to burn down their house, if they won’t agree to a 20.000 baht compensation in return for the withdrawal of the police report.

In both cases the police took no action at all. So much to the way too often often cited “moral standards” in LOS.

[tetleythedog]

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Those are quite shocking statistics in a country that purportedly follows the teachings of Buddha.

The shock, and a disgusting one at that, is the fact that if there were 31,000 cases in 2013 and 8.5 % were by teachers, then there are 2,635 rapist teachers out there !!! What a society eh?

[Udox]

And this data does not cover the huge number of women and children who are too afraid to report the crimes committed against them, out of shame, obedience or fear - or a combination of all three. When you are severely traumatised you often stop acting rationally, and start fearing everybody - including the agencies who are there to help you. This problem is global, although I feel that in countries where confidence in the authorities is low, this problem is much worse.

Sexual assault of a child should carry a mandatory life sentence, life meaning life, and this should only be handed down when the evidence is as clear-cut as possible. I am at my most hard-line on this issue, I don't believe in second chances or forgiveness for this particular crime. Rape of adults should also carry heavy sentences, again following a fair trial with sufficient evidence. In all cases the victims should be offered extensive counselling, and assistance with relocation if they want this.

In addition to your list of reasons why the crimes may go unreported, I think you should add the reason that: there is very little faith in the police here and many victims of crime, sexual or otherwise feel it's just a complete waste of their time and emotions. Sad.

As you stated- the problem is much worse where confidence in the authorities is low. Perhaps that is in the minds of the offender when he is on the prowl.

[Maroon Watcher]

Easy going Thailand again - and thats just the Police?

There has to be a line drawn and enough is enough.

As Thailand moves towards moderisation there needs to be control.

Repeat CONTROL - NO Excuses!

[Mario2008]

Those are quite shocking statistics in a country that purportedly follows the teachings of Buddha.

Does anyone think this has anything to do with the religion practiced here. This is more to do with Thai men's lack of respect for women.

This is more to do with Thai men's lack of respect for women. Yes and no punishment

It has less to do with Thai culture than you might like to think.

Unfortunately sexual violence against woman and children is a serious global problem, and in Europe the percentage of woman and children that are victim are also very high.

What does seem high in the provided statistics is the percentage of teachers that are perps. That suggests insufficient screening of teachers and lack of checks by fellow teachers daring the question the actions of another teacher.

[ginjag]

The topic speaks of REPORTED, if the non reported could be at least 3 x this number, it would mean 10 an hour, this may well even be well short of the ACTUAL number.

How many persons would really report these cases ??? so my 3 x could well be well short. =====more than 10 an hour. Speaking out against wrongs is NOT something Thais dare to do, example---elders, officials, school teachers, police, it even shows as an example again when government decisions are outrageous. The media is another example of FEAR.

[prakhonchai nick]

It's all down to lack of punishment both here in Thailand and many countries worldwide.

Basic rape should be minimum 10 years imprisonment

Rape with injury..20 years

Rape causing death.. .death penalty.

All too often it is little more than a slap on the wrist, a few thousand baht compensation, marry the girl or the police failing in their duty to do anything about the reports.

[trainman34014]

What can anyone expect in a country where 'seeking justice' depends on how much you are willing to pay the Police to do their job ?

In many ways the country is rotten to the very core and anyone who says otherwise is wearing tinted spec's.

[dotpoom]

Those are quite shocking statistics in a country that purportedly follows the teachings of Buddha.

Like it would never happen in a Christian country?

[canman]

"In many cases police refused to accept complaints by victims, citing political instability as the reason",

So, it's actually quite a lot more than 87 a day?

Sadly I suspect the real number is a great deal more. If one has any understanding of Thai culture, the logical conclusion is that this type of assult is grossly under reported.

[ggt]

Not allowed to post slurs, degrading or overly negative comments directed towards Thailand, specific locations, Thai institutions such as the judicial or law enforcement system, Thai culture, or Thai people!

[sirchai]

Too many kids and women do not say anything, as they got the feeling that they did something wrong. Sad, very sad.

[Bkungbank]

In my age VDO phonographic not easy to obtain but now days internet contribute main sex crime here, in Camfrog you can see many youngster show off private tools by not shame to others.

Hormones were driven factor plus internet exposes this cannot be control by only government but busy working parents must check and bare a big responsibility.

[Seastallion]

"Jaree said the factors leading people to commit sex crimes included alcohol, intolerance to self-sexual urges, and consequent crimes occurring after robbery."

On the surface maybe but dig a little deeper and you will find rape is about power, and also about lack of consequences.

Being drunk is no excuse.

Being horny is not an excuse.

[Dave 74]

Same in every country.

Thailand good, Thai people good, you no good.