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THAILAND
# 1 Using Information
to Prevent Trafficking in Women The Women's Information Centre (WIC), created by the Foundation for Women in 1984, focuses on ensuring that women contemplating going abroad to work or marry make informed decisions, with full knowledge of the risks and their rights. Many of the women have been offered domestic work in countries such as Japan, Hong Kong, and Germany. WIC give them information and advice, explain the adjustments they will have to make if they take up the work offers, and warn them against possible deception or disappointment. In this way they help to prevent women becoming victims of sexual violence or trafficking. WIC also provides training for village women leaders, community leaders and school children in the north and northeast of Thailand, teaching ways to oppose forced prostitution, trafficking of women and sexual violence. They use various media to tell people about the conditions of women in service industries and abroad, so that women leaders and young women will realize the severity of the problem and cooperate in dealing with it in their local community. In addition, WIC work with government and NGO agencies in other countries to assist women who have been forced into commercial sex. They have provided legal assistance to women involved in court cases in overseas countries, and repatriation and reintegration support. Without their support, many of these cases would not have proceeded, as the women were not aware of their rights or of the protection available to them under the law. # 2 End Violence
Against Women Day In 1998 a group of NGOs collaborated to designate the 25th of November as End Violence Against Women Day in order to raise public awareness of VAW, and to advocate that the government establish a mechanism to protect women from violence. The NGOs included Friends of Women Foundation; Foundation for Women; Empower; Hotline Foundation; Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women; and Women Worker Unity Group. A range of activities was carried out over the weeks leading up to the 25th. A travelling drama group and students from Ramkamhang University gave drama performances on VAW and led discussions in 20 high schools and colleges. A two-day exhibition was held incorporating drama, a talk show, music, self-defense training, videos, and various other promotional activities. A two-day workshop involving 100 participants from government and NGO agencies was arranged to discuss alternative ways to solve VAW problems. On End Violence Against Women Day, 50 representatives from the participating NGOs submitted a joint request to the government to establish mechanisms to protect women from violence. The day has led to a number of positive outcomes. The joint submission was considered by the National Commission for Women's Affairs, which has now drawn up a national action plan to combat violence against women. This model was first described by a Malaysian speaker at the workshop, and specifically recommended in the joint submission to government. # 3 Providing Emergency
Accommodation The Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women has been running an "Emergency Home" providing temporary accommodation to abused women for the past 20 years. The shelter has two branches in Bangkok, and provides assistance in public places such as Hua Lampong Police Station and Mor Chit Bus Terminal. The Emergency Home provides abused women with temporary shelter, food, basic necessities and moral support in order to give them a breathing space in which to plan for the future. It also offers practical assistance such as health care, counselling, child-care services, occupational training and recreational activities. The need for the service is demonstrated by the 40,000 requests for assistance, which have been received by the shelter during its 20-year history. Many abused women have gained vocational and life skills and public awareness of violence against women has increased. # 4 Advocating for
Women During Constitutional Reform The Women's Constitution Network was established in 1996 to ensure that women's issues were addressed as part of the constitutional reform processes, which eventually led to Thailand adopting a new constitution in October 1997. The network consists of 38 women's organizations including NGOs, grassroots women's groups and academic groups throughout the country. The WCN aimed to promote
women's participation in constitutional drafting; to promote the
inclusion of issues affecting women in the constitution; and to promote
public knowledge and understanding of the constitution, particularly
among women. Strategies used by WCN included disseminating information,
brainstorming to identify issues, which should be included in the
constitution, and publishing academic papers. UNIFEM supported some of
these activities. WCN also encouraged women to seek election to the
Constitution Drafting Council. As a result, more than 30 percent of the
candidates were women and six of them were elected in the Council. #5 Incorporating VAW
Issues in the Training of Police Cadets A long-standing problem in addressing violence against women has been a lack of understanding and sensitivity among police officers. Some police believe that family violence is a personal matter in which outsiders should not intervene, or that abused women "consent" to violence. Others believe that women report abuse in order to blackmail the accused, or that women in the sex trade are "bad". As a result of these attitudes, the rights of abused women are often not well protected by the police. To address this, in 1997 the police cadet academies accepted the recommendations of government and NGO agencies to include this issue in the curriculum as a mandatory part of police cadet training. All senior cadets must now work with NGOs on women's issues for one week as part of their training. On the first day, the Friends of Women Foundation (FOW) gives the cadets an orientation on the problems of children and women and the role of police officers, including a discussion of gender issues. During the following days the students meet with abused women, and work side-by-side with NGOs to assist victims of violence. On the final day, they review these experiences and discuss coordination between FOW and the police. Through this program the students learn directly of the problems of violence against women, and the impact on victims. As a result they develop better attitudes on the issues, which will have a positive impact on their work as police officers when they graduate. # 6 Lobbying for Female
Investigators In Thailand, family violence and sexual harassment have traditionally been regarded as personal and shameful matters, in which the women are believed to be at fault. Male police investigators take it for granted that abused women consented to the violence against them, or that they are making a complaint because they want to blackmail the abuser. Some police use investigation techniques that make the abused women feel even more abused. These factors combine to discourage victims of violence against women from reporting their cases to the police. To address this problem, government and non-government organizations combined to lobby the government to assign female investigators to each police station. A range of lobbying strategies were used over the period 1993-1995, including seminars, public campaigns, information dissemination, public addresses by abused women stressing the importance of female investigators, and direct lobbying of policy makers. This campaign was very successful, and in August 1995 the Police Department launched a pilot project placing 15 female investigators in 3 metropolitan police stations to undertake investigations into abuse of women and children. Evaluation of their work demonstrated that the victims felt more comfortable giving information to female investigators than to males. Subsequently, in 1999 the Police Department trained 27 female police officers and assigned them to work on violence against women cases in four major cities in Thailand. # 7 Providing
Assistance to Victims of Violence Against Women 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. The centre has a range of activities that assist victims of violence to solve their problems and lead dignified lives. These include counselling for women and their families; support groups; and training on women's rights, the law, and women's health. The centre also arranges for other professionals, such as medical doctors, psychologists, social workers, lawyers and police, to assist abused women. Each year WPRC assists around 700 women in distress. Some of these go on to support other abused women through providing counselling for their friends, encouraging participation in women's activities, or even becoming public speakers and resource people. At the policy level, WRPC cooperates with other women's organizations to lobby the government to establish mechanisms to assist women in distress, and to remove laws that are unfair and discriminate against women. #8 Educating Young
People about Equality in Sexual Relationships Strategies to address trafficking in women and forced prostitution have typically focused on women and their families. The underlying social attitudes that accept male sexual activity outside marriage, and believe that it is normal for men to buy sex, have not been tackled. The Foundation for Women (FFW) believes these attitudes must be changed, and therefore established an Education Project on Equality in Sexual Relationships. The project targets university and college students in four cities Bangkok; Chiang Mai; Khon Kaen; and Songkla; which are major sites of the sex trade. It aims to establish understanding of gender issues in Thai society, and to encourage participation, especially of male students, in solving the problem of women and children being sold into the sex industry. The project began with focus groups and cultural activities to publicise the project's aims, and to recruit students to form a core working group. These initial activities focused on exploring societal attitudes about sex, and the relationship of these attitudes to the sex trade. The focus groups revealed that buying sexual services is less common than sexual relationships among students. Students main concerns were about equality in relationships, especially if the woman becomes pregnant. Students recognized that it is always the females who suffers the consequences, and wanted the project to promote the principle that sexual relationships should be based on non-exploitative relationships. FFW then conducted an Internet Poll of 4789 students, surveying the attitudes of male students towards sex with women. The results were hotly debated by the public, particularly the issue of sexual conduct of young people. Based on the poll, FFW decided to broaden the campaign to cover equality in sexual relationships as a whole. FFW also trained the students who volunteered to form the core working group. The training covered gender issues, attitudes about sex, and communication techniques. It emphasized that coercing women and children into the sex trade was a violation of human rights. After the training, the core group organized discussion groups and theatrical performances, produced T-shirts and notebooks with slogans, and recorded music advocating more equal relationships between women and men which were broadcast on popular radio stations. Because the students share similar tastes, attitudes and ways of life with their peers, their strategies are able to communicate effectively with the target group. Both the core group and other students now have more understanding and are able to look critically at gender relationship issues. #9 Training Rural Women
to be Para Social Development Workers In Chiangmai and Udonthani provinces, a project by the Foundation for Women (FFW) has demonstrated how urban women's organization can work with grassroots women and youth in rural areas to give them an active role in combating violence against women. The Para Social Development Workers (PSDW) Training Project aimed to increase village women's understanding of violence against women issues, and enable them to become para social development workers in their villages. Community leaders and officers nominated women and young people to participate in the seven-day program, which trained them in assisting victims of domestic and sexual violence, and in raising awareness in their communities. The trained PSDW have surveyed their communities to assess the situation of women and youth, and held meetings to warn people about the practice of trafficking in women. They have also provided counselling, legal information and other support to women and children who have been victims of domestic violence or were faced with unwanted pregnancies. To facilitate this, FFW field workers provide educational materials and pay regular visits to the villages. In their work the PSDW have won the confidence of village women and youth, and have been able to assist many women and children in their communities. Their work was recorded in a book about their experiences in working to combat violence against women and children, which was distributed to community development workers and village women leaders. Working as PSDW has also led to positive changes for many of the women themselves. Some have developed greater self-confidence and knowledge. A few have decided to resume their education. Increased political awareness has also been noticeable. For example, some PSDW have been appointed to their village committee, while a few ran in elections for village chief and positions on their local administrative organizations. These changes reflect the growing awareness of local politics among rural women, and their strong desire to share in political power. #10 Developing
Materials about Sexual Exploitation for Young Women The teenage years are a period of tremendous change, when young women and men still need guidance and advice. However, when faced by intolerance, lack of understanding, or lack of time with their parents, many young people attempt to solve their problems themselves, or turn to friends of their own age. To meet the need for appropriate advice and guidance, the Foundation for Women (FFW) organized a series of combined camps/workshops for young women who were interested in the issue of sexual exploitation. More than 80 young women from villages and poor urban communities, aged 13-18, attended the three-day camps. The workshops focused on issues in the lives of teenagers, encouraging open discussion of sexual issues, and using games and exercises to further explore the issues. Participants exchanged ideas and experiences about violence against women, practised self-defense, and learnt how to help friends who were faced with sexual exploitation or violence. The main outcome of the workshops was a handbook written by the participants on preventing sexual exploitation for teenage women, "Know the Facts about Sexual Exploitation." This covered all the topics they had discussed, such as gender roles and discrimination, myths about rape, unwanted pregnancies, and sexual assault, and listed organisations that provide non-judgmental advice and support. In addition, the participants developed knowledge, understanding and self-confidence, which will strengthen their ability to protect themselves and their friends from sexual exploitation and abuse. The handbook was distributed freely in the FFW's networks in the rural communities, and to NGOs working with children and young people both in Bangkok and rural areas. The handbook is also available at some bookstores. The Foundation plans to distribute this handbook in the schools in collaboration with the government. # 11 Providing Services
through a Women's Club The Women's Club serves as a safe haven for women in crisis, providing a meeting place for abused women to exchange experiences, help each other, and obtain useful information. The Club was established in March 1994 with the support of the Women's Rights Protection Centre and the Friends of Women Foundation. The club has about 130 members and 20 core members throughout the country, creating a network of women who are or have been in crisis. Core members contribute greatly to the activities of the club by volunteering to do telephone counselling, to meet with abused women and their families, to provide advice, to undertake educational activities and to contribute to policy development. The Women's Club also organises small support groups in which abused women can learn from other women's experiences and improve their confidence and morale. This is supplemented by occupational training which promotes self-reliance among women. Other activities include an annual family camp for club members who are single parents, and training in law, counselling and women's health care. # 12 Providing
Telephone Counselling for Abused Women Telephone counselling is an effective way of providing women victims of violence with access to quick and responsive services and advice on their problems. In Thailand, a range of NGOs provide counselling services over the phone, these are Hotline Foundation; Foundation for Women; Friends of Women Foundation; and Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women . An emergency assistance centre has also been established which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide telephone counselling, receive complaints about abuse, and coordinate with other public and private agencies to provide long-term assistance to the women. The NGOs continue to lobby for additional 24-hour hotlines to meet the needs of abused women in Bangkok and other provinces. #13 Using Television to
Eliminate Violence Against Women The Hotline Centre Foundation, a women's NGO, is producing a television programme as part of its efforts to eliminate violence against women. The programme is supported by a UNIFEM project, as part of the Campaign to Eliminate Violence Against Women. The programme runs three weeks out of four at midday on a weekday, and is receiving high and increasing ratings. The programme has covered topics such as women's issues in constitutional reform, promotion of women's studies and sex education, incest, extra-marital relationships, domestic violence, the role of the media in reporting VAW, teenage sexuality, and using assertive rather than passive or aggressive strategies to deal with difficult relationships. Guests have included Lorraine Corner, UNIFEM Regional Programme Adviser; Khunying Supatra Masdit, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office; Pongthemp Thepkanjana, a former judge and member of the panel which prepared the new Thai Constitution; and a range of others from gynaecologists to journalists. In addition to interviews and discussions by the guests, the show provides nine counsellors to assist viewers, many of who take advantage of the phone-in format to provide comments or ask questions. A number of viewers also call the Hotline counselling service later seeking advice and assistance. On a typical day in April 1999, for example, around 50 viewers called in during the programme, and 35 consulted the Hotline Centre. # 14 Using Information
to Promote Awareness and Policy Change The Information Centre of the Friends of Women Foundation was established in 1980 to collect and disseminate information on women's issues, especially violence against women. This helps to educate the public and support campaigns on VAW issues. The Centre compiles statistical and issue-based information from a range of sources, including newspaper clippings, research, national and international statistical collections, as well as data on the services provided by the Foundation itself. It has also undertaken research on specific aspects of violence against women, such as rape. The results have been published in journals and other printed materials (in both Thai and English), in case studies, and in annual statistical reports. The Centre has also published manuals on how to assist women victims of violence, most notably a manual on how to assist rape victims. The Centre serves as an information centre for academic research, and has collected an important body of knowledge on violence against women. It has contributed to policy development through organizing academic seminars, and by providing information direct to policy makers. #15 Empowering Women
Working in the Sex Business Contrary to some views, women working in the sex business are often striving to survive by living a lifestyle that they themselves abhor. Society also looks down on them, making it difficult for them to participate in social activities. The lack of social contact can make women sex workers vulnerable, limiting their access to information and support, and preventing them from moving into alternative occupations. In response, the Centre for the Protection of the Rights of Women, a project of Empower, in the Sex Business has been created in order to promote social opportunities and assist women working in this industry. It provides advice and information to enhance the opportunities for these women to obtain basic and non-formal education, and to provide social welfare to them and their families. In addition, it fosters coordination among individuals, groups, and public and private sector agencies in both Thailand and abroad. The Centre provides non-formal education at two locations, and uses volunteers to teach, promote literacy, and encourage women to obtain education certificates. Skills such as foreign languages, typing, computing, and batik dyeing have been taught to give women sex workers the option to move to alternative occupations. Personal health has also been promoted in particular the use of safe sex practices to reduce the risk of AIDS. As a result of the project, some women sex workers have obtained education certificates from the non-formal education courses, and successfully obtained jobs in other, more socially accepted jobs. They now have greater pride in themselves, and are no longer subject to discrimination as sex workers. Other women who have become literate have used this knowledge to better protect themselves. Dated: 22Nov2001 |
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