March 2, 2009
Bangkok (ASTV Manager Online) – Police paid little attention to violence in family and just warned the culprits to stop violence, according to a poll.
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) surveyed 796 respondents nationwide. The qualitative survey was conducted between June 2008 and April 2009.
Respondents were from various walks of life such as doctors, nurses, police, public health officials, judges, lawyers, social workers, psychologist and teachers.
Most of the respondent misunderstood that violence in family was a personal problem. Women were considered the cause of the problem, and taking a legal action against male culprit would put a woman’s family in trouble.
Both women and children who faced violence from men thought police did not give immediate help or useful information and had negative attitudes toward the problem.
Some investigative officers enforced the law by just telling men not to harm women again.
Those who faced violence wanted men to be punished or refined so that they would change their violent behaviors.
They believed warning or mediating would not solve the problem. Rather, it could endanger their life.
It was suggested that relating working units should campaign against violence continually. Community network should also be extended to primarily prevent and solve the family problem.
