BANGKOK – Thailand’s lawmakers are advancing new laws aimed at shielding women from sexual harassment. Lawmakers are preparing a bill that broadens the definition of sexual harassment, including not only physical acts but also actions like persistent staring, inappropriate remarks, and unwanted messages.
This legislative change reflects rising demands for gender equality in a culture that often sticks to traditional male-centric roles.
A proposed law would cover physical abuse as well as behaviours such as leering, obscene comments, and sexual messages that can leave individuals feeling unsafe. Having received backing from the House, the law is expected to come into force in the near future.
A recent survey from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation in 2024 showed that nearly 24 percent of people in Thailand have witnessed sexual harassment at work, and over 6 percent have experienced it themselves.
Among those targeted, more than 86 percent cited leering as the main problem, more than half reported people commenting on their appearance or body, and almost 3 percent said they received direct sexual advances.
The study highlights that sexual harassment often takes subtle forms. Over a third of victims did nothing, and more than half of bystanders chose to ignore what they saw.
Revising the Criminal Code
Ms. Jaded Chouwilai, who leads the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation, warned against casually dismissing these behaviours. She explains these actions often lead to more serious sexual violence. “Many rape survivors who come to us say it began with lingering looks and offhand comments,” Jaded explains.
In Thai society, both men and women often accept such behaviours as normal. Some women think it’s typical for men to act this way, while some men believe women enjoy this attention. Jaded cautions that silence can allow such behaviour to escalate.
To improve protection and discourage sexual offences, most Thai MPs support revising the Criminal Code. Besides expanding the sexual harassment definition, the new bill will also address stalking, which is currently not recognized as a crime in Thailand.
One recent case involved a Thai woman who reported a Myanmar man for stalking her since late last year. She had earlier informed police that he had entered her building without permission.
“He first contacted me on Instagram,” she said. “At first, his messages were playful, but later they grew threatening. Even though I blocked him, he made more than 30 new accounts to harass me. Now I worry for my safety.”
Her anxiety led her to start taking medication. She said, “I will pursue legal action under the new law until he leaves me alone.” The new law will expand how sexual harassment and rape are defined, aiming to protect people more effectively from sexual offences.
Stronger Protection for Women
Currently, rape laws are strict in their interpretation, covering only certain acts. Jaded says if the bill is passed, it will offer stronger safeguards, representing progress for women’s rights. Once in effect, the law is set to provide stronger protection and act as a tougher deterrent against sexual offences.
Updated punishments include jail time and fines. Stalkers could face up to a year in prison or a fine of up to 30,000 baht. If someone in a position of authority, like a boss, harasses a subordinate, they could spend up to three years in jail or pay up to 60,000 baht in fines.
Anyone found guilty of harassing others online or in public faces the same penalties — up to three years in jail and a 60,000 baht fine.
Sexual predators who target children under 15 could face up to five years in jail and fines up to 100,000 baht. Courts will enforce these penalties regardless of any settlements or private agreements between victims and offenders.
While Jaded welcomes these changes as a positive move, she stresses the need for Thais to also shift their ways of thinking about sexual harassment and recognize its true impact. “Sexual harassment isn’t limited to physical acts,” Jaded points out.
New Sexual Harassment Bill Criticized
Some, like Senator Decha Nutalai, have criticized the bill. He argues that broadening the definition might prompt false accusations and blackmail. He says, “Simple gestures meant as flattery or romance could now be seen as harassment.
Even those without ill intent could get caught up in this.”
Decha adds that admiring a woman’s looks is common in Thai culture, referencing popular song lyrics and sayings about persistent pursuit.
Chanettee Tinnam, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, criticizes Decha’s argument. She believes that focusing only on rare false claims ignores the need to protect most women.
“If the proposed law is opposed just to avoid rare cases of misuse, it leaves most women without help.” Chanettee also pointed out that women who face abuse are often blamed, no matter the nature of the incident.
“After suffering harassment, women get blamed and shamed,” she said. “Even without physical harm, emotional damage is real and can last for years.”
Jaded adds that Thailand needs to challenge old values and beliefs, especially those seen in popular culture and media. These mindsets, she says, must be removed to make real progress.
Sexual Harassment in Thailand
A YouGov survey from 2019 interviewed 1,107 people in Thailand. About 21 percent said they had faced sexual harassment at some point. Women reported it a bit more often than men, with 23 percent of women and 18 percent of men saying so. The most frequent types included sexual assault (44 percent), unwanted comments (42 percent), and public exposure (35 percent).
More than half of those who had experienced harassment told someone about it. Most talked to friends (55 percent) or family members (39 percent), but only 10 percent went to the police.
Many said they felt too embarrassed (46 percent), worried nothing would happen (27 percent), or felt pressured by society (25 percent) to keep quiet. The survey pointed to public transport (27 percent), nightclubs (18 percent), and schools or universities (17 percent) as places where harassment often happens.
Women who move to Thailand for work deal with higher risks of sexual harassment. They struggle to get justice because of things like language barriers and the stigma attached to speaking out. Few cases end up in court.
Ideas about gender and blaming victims for what happened to them keep many people from reporting abuse. The Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation shared that seven out of ten Thai women who faced harassment or assault did not talk to anyone in authority.
