Fund to fight domestic violence in Bangkok gets Bt50 million, royal backing

BMA Social Development Office director Piangjai Wisaruthrat said the launch would be held at Din Daeng's Bangkok Youth Centre (Thai-Japanese). The fund, overseen by five qualified outsiders to ensure transparency, will assist victims of domestic violence in Bangkok and be open for more monetary donations in future, she said.

Princess pitches in

Public and private sector organisations could also propose projects along with their donations. These will be divided into three sizes: less than Bt200,000; Bt200,000 to Bt500,000; and Bt500,000 to Bt1 million. The first of three project-proposal sessions per year will be held next January to February.

On Saturday, HRH Princess Bajra Kitiyabha presented about three million names of Thai campaigners against domestic violence to Dr Jean D'Cunha, Asia's programme director for the United Nation's Development Fund for Women. The names will be submitted to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today.

The Princess, also the campaign's goodwill ambassador, presided over Saturday's Bangkok conference to mark the one-year anniversary of the Act Protecting Victims who have Suffered Violence within the Family, attended by 1,200 people.

//////