A report on sexual violence released yesterday reveals homes are the most common site  of attacks and the most perpetrators know the victims.

The Friends of Women Foundation produced the report called "Situation of sexual violence in 2006". Data shows 44 per cent of 118 cases of sexual violence reported to its women's rights' protection centre in Bangkok last year occurred in victims' homes or places they were familiar with. Just one of the reported cases occurred on an isolated street, according to centre director Supensri Puengkoksoong.

It said 84 per cent of attackers were close or known to victims. And, 41 per cent of women decide not to report assaults and rapes because of these associations, Supensri said.

The report collected additional information over the past year from five local papers -Thai Rath, Daily News, Matichon, Khao Sod and Khom Chad Luek. They reported 324 cases of sexual violence committed by 678 alleged attackers against 370 victims, according to researcher Nipaporn Raepua.

The alleged attackers included seven fathers of victims, 15 fathers-in-law and 18 other male relatives ranging from grandfathers and uncles to grandsons, Nipaporn said.

And, like the cases handled by the foundation, many of the attacks reported by the media occurred in victim's homes. Nipaporn said 74 of the attacks occurred in the victim's home and 63 in the homes of the alleged attackers, while 26 were on isolated streets, 12 in temples and nine at schools. The remainder were in cars, taxis and other vehicles. Thai and foreign tourists were victims of sexual assaults or rape at beaches and a dozen foreigners were accused of assaulting or raping women.

Mobile phones had become crime accessories with victims often photographed during attacks and threatened with public humiliation if police reports were made.

According to the study of news reports, the oldest victim was 82 and the youngest two. The youngest offender was an eight-year-old boy who allegedly gang raped a 14-year-old with a 60-year-old man.

Foundation manager Jadet Chaowilai reported its six provincial centres received 189 complaints. The centres are in Chiang Mai, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Chumphon, Hat Yai and Samut Prakan. "A problem we found was that state mechanisms do not work. About 50 per cent of the 189 cases were rejected by police," he said, adding police often did not treat sex crimes as violence or did not take complaints seriously.

Jadet called on the government to appoint more women police officers to handle sexual assaults. Women were better equipped to handle assaults on women, he said.

The foundation has published a book called "Rape: Silence to be Shattered" which tells of 12 cases. For copies, phone 02 513 1001 or e-mail FOW@mozart.inet.co.th.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation