In a petition submitted to the ministry and received by Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development chief Lertpanya Buranabandhit, the activist groups presented findings from a recent opinion poll regarding sexual harassments during the Songkran festival and the value held by quite a few men that they can sexually harass women with impunity.
Of the 1,793 women aged 10-40 polled, the findings show 85.9 percent despise sexual harassments and wanted measures to be put in place to prevent the misconduct while 51.9 percent admitted they used to be sexually harassed, especially in areas where alcoholic drinks are on sale.
The groups have demanded the ministry to launch a publicity campaign to stop the malpractice and to coordinate with the police and local law enforcement officials to strictly enforce the law to ensure safety for women and girls during the festival.
The groups’ spokesman, Jadet Chaowilai, noted that his chief concern during the Songkran festival was the staging of concerts where alcoholic drinks are on sale, saying that sexual harassment against women are commonplace at such venues.
It was interesting to see the survey was conducted among females starting at age TEN ! Surely that is too young for such a subject, at least it is to be HOPED that it is too young.
(Source: ThaiPBS)