UNIFEM seeks half-a-million names to put Thailand on the map

Yesterday afternoon, the campaign was already close to its target of half a million signatories.

People interested in joining this "Say No to Violence against Women" campaign, and making it an issue on the world community's emergency agenda , can reach it online through www.novaw.or.th/sign.

UNIFEM's regional programme director for East and Southeast Asia, Jean D'Cunha, said yesterday the namegathering campaign would be the first such countrywide support for these women's rights issues, making Thailand an inspiration to other nations.

HRH Princess Bajra Kitiyabha, the campaign's goodwill ambassador, graciously signed postcards as part of the campaign to be among the voices opposing violence, and gave the cards to representatives from ministries and the public and private sectors as well as women's rights organisations. The Princess also recorded a speech for the campaign's television advertisement to be aired on November 20.

Local violence against women and children is on the rise. Victims receiving help from the One Stop Crisis Centre in 2006 numbered 39 cases per day, almost double the 19 daily cases of 2004.

The Social Development and Human Security Ministry reported 837 cases in 2006, mostly sexual assaults, a figure nearly double 2004's 469 cases. Women and children helped by the ministry's social welfare facilities increased from 15,750 in 2004 to 18,617 cases in 2006.

A survey on Thai reproductive health in 2006 showed that 1,044,942 married women aged 1549 had suffered physical and mental abuse in the past year. The Court of Justice reported a rising trend of 9,653 rape cases in 2006, compared to 4,896 in 2002.