Thai organisations demand stronger action against sexual harassment in education
A network of over 100 child and women’s organisations led by Ticha Na Nakorn today submitted a petition to the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Thailand, demanding stronger action against sexual harassment following the life imprisonment of six perpetrators. The defendants, four teachers and two older students were convicted of sexually abusing three students in Mukdahan Province.
Ticha, an advisor to the Foundation for Children, Youth and Family, was joined by Angkhana Intasao, Head of the Gender Equality Promotion Division of the Far Away Foundation, and representatives from more than 40 child, women and family organisations. The petition, signed by over 100 organisations, was delivered to Lieutenant General Phipun Chitchob, Permanent Secretary of the MOE, expressing their stance and demands.
The organisations demanded that the MOE use stronger measures to tackle sexual harassment, following a ruling by the Mukdahan Provincial Court on December 8. The court sentenced the six defendants to life imprisonment and ordered them to pay over 3 million baht in damages, plus an annual interest rate of 7.5%. The abuses took place continuously from 2019 to 2020.
We see this court decision as a monumental success. However, to truly make schools a safe space for children, the MoE must send a signal to address these issues, Ticha stated. The network, composed of over 100 organisations, believes such incidents are common among students under the MOE’s care and are often committed by educational personnel, reflecting the deep-rooted sexual violence in the Thai education system.
Their demands include the MOE’s involvement in legal action when children or students are violated, the maximum disciplinary punishment for teachers or educational personnel found guilty of sexual harassment, and an independent, victim-friendly Child Protection and Sexual Harassment Centre.
The organisations also call for education regarding children’s rights, gender equality and practices to create a safe environment free from sexual violence. Angkhana commented that the foundation had been to the MOE several years ago, trying to resolve the issue of school violence, which is a genuine problem.
Statistics
The majority of perpetrators, according to the information, are educational personnel. In 2021, a newspaper review of 13 issues found 98 reports of sexual violence, with over half involving victims aged between 11 and 15 years old.
Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Assistant Minister for Education, stated that the MOE has given special importance to these issues as per its policy of good education and happiness. However, he noted that academic success and student happiness cannot be achieved if violence or sexual harassment exists in schools.
Siripong assured that the MOE is using strong measures to protect victims from perpetrators and is keen to be a key mechanism in making schools a truly safe place, reported KhaoSod.
