BANGKOK, Nov 25 – The Ministry of Public Health is planning to set up more One Stop Crisis Centres (OSCC) in all communities’ hospitals nationwide by next year to help assist children and women victimised by violence.
Public Health officials and volunteers are to monitor situations for those likely to become victims of violence such as young girls and mentally or physically handicapped women.
The United Nations has designated November 25 as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Public Health Secretary-General Narong Sahametapat said Thailand has set up over 600 One Stop Crisis Centers (OSCC) nationwide to help deal with violence against children and women in the country.
The tendency for violence has clearly increased since 2006 where over 15,000 children and women were hurt or 43 persons/day.
In 2010, the figure rose to over 25,000 victims, or 70 persons/day and 3 persons/hour, of whom 51 percent were children and 49 percent women. Nine out of ten children victimised were female aged 10-15, followed by youth of 15-18 years old.
Sexual harassment came first at more than 9,300 people, followed by assaults at almost 3,000 persons, mostly committed by those in the same family or known and trusted by them.
According to the statistics, lovers mostly caused violence among couples, followed by friends. Reasons of violence came from circumstantial factors such as pornography and unexpected opportunities at home.
Meanwhile, violence against women was found mostly in those aged 25-45, followed by those aged 18-25. Physical violence occurred in more than 9,400 women while sexual assault happened to around 2,200 women, mainly due to jealousy.
