Women 'feel ignored by this govt'

OCSS director Thanawadee Thachin said most of the women seeking assistance last year were victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse, and that most of the complaints this year were of violence at home.

She added that these numbers were only the tip of the iceberg because many women chose not to complain out of fear of rejection, shame, threats from influential people or just the belief that police would consider their problem a "personal matter" and not do anything. Last year, only 4,000 women had filed police complaints, she said, adding that this allowed criminals to repeat their offences because they know victims would not fight back.

Hence, she said, this government, which is led by a female prime minister, should implement laws and take measures to protect women.

Meanwhile, the 500 or so female workers participating in the rally yesterday, which is held every year outside Government House on International Women's Day, criticised the government for not having a minister meet them and take their demand to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra.

Speakers from the different female workers' groups slammed the current Pheu Thai-led government for ignoring their demands, and said that the previous Abhisit Vejjajiva administration seemed to care more about women's rights. They also criticised Yingluck for ignoring the needs of fellow women. At noon they threw a letter across the fence, declared their demands on stage and dispersed about half an hour later.

The group's demands covered the following issues:

- The impact of last year's flood crisis on female workers;

- The lack of access to funds for the development of the role of women;

- The lack of childcare facilities in industrial districts;

- The fact that Thailand has yet to ratify the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 183 on maternity protection;

- The impact Privatisation of State Enterprise policy has had on female workers;

- The small role that female workers play in decision-making and policy-planning in the Tri-Partite Committee for Labour and the lack of women politicians.

Meanwhile, a message from Yingluck was posted on the Government House website in which she offered good wishes to fellow-Thai women and those working in the field of women's affairs.

The premier also promised to maintain gender equality and promote women's role in the country's development. She added that her government did give importance to women's issues by introducing policies and law amendments that protect women's rights.