Violence against women on the rise

BANKGOK, December 7 (TNA) - Thailand's official figures say that violence against women has been on the rise, as the Ministry of Public Health's Department of Mental Health is trying to solve the problem. The department reported on Thursday that violence against women has kept rising in Thailand over the past five years, with over 27,000 female victims having been admitted at government-run health care facilities. From January to November this year, the department said, 733 women had sought official help, most of them were victims of domestic and sexual violence. Dr. Wachira Pengchan, Director-General of the Department of Mental Health, meanwhile, cited the United Nations as reporting that Thailand has been ranked seventh for sexual violence, as Thai people have viewed the problem as personal and authorities have failed to take legal action because they ignored domestic problems. Consequently, Dr. Wachira noted that most abused women were reluctant to file complaints, leading to the rising violence, which partly hinders national development. The department's chief suggested that families play important roles in implanting positive attitudes, empathy, respect and right values in people, and that the society beware that violence against children and women is not a personal issue but the problem everyone should help solve. According to the senior official, a law to protect people from domestic violence has taken effect in Thailand since November 12, 2007; so, concerned officials can intervene in domestic violence upon being informed. (TNA)