'Stop revealing details of victims'
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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.
