CRIME / PROTECTION OF CHILDREN, WOMEN
Amended rape law 'falls short'

ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA

Advocacy groups for women, children and homosexuals yesterday slammed a draft amendment to a sex crime law before the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) which they say fails to protect vulnerable groups. The groups said the amended draft, which was finalised in March, still contains clauses that create loopholes for men to abuse victims, particularly their wives and children, without harsh penalties.
Usa Lertsrisantad of the Foundation for Women said the amendment did not respond to advocacy groups' demands.
Although there are changes to the wording of Article 276 to protect women from rape by their husbands, the groups disagreed with the definition of ''rape'' as an act to ''serve one's sexual desire''.
The group also disagreed with a clause that allowed courts to consider reducing penalties if rapes occur between husbands and wives who still want to remain married.
Jadet Chaowilai of the Friends for Women Foundation said he would like the controversial clauses to be deleted.
''There were many rape cases that did not happen because of men's sexual desires, but because of jealousy or their intention to show power over their wives,'' said Mr Jadet.
More than 1,500 sexual abuse cases were reported to his foundation last year, with 70% of them involving domestic violence. Half of the domestic cases involved forced sex by husbands. Sanphasit Khoompraphant of the Centre for the Protection of Children's Rights criticised the law for exempting statutory rapists from punishment if their victims are children, aged 13 to 15, who consented to sexual intercourse and if the court later permits their marriage.

Bangkok Post