* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
BANGKOK, 10 June 2014 – Following the horrific rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl on a public train, Plan Thailand and UNESCO Bangkok call for immediate action to address the safety issues and wider social norms that can leave girls and women prey to such heinous acts.
The tragic death of Nong Kaem came only days after reports of an attempted rape of a 14-year-old girl in a school classroom in Chonburi.
The agencies call for these disturbing incidents to help bolster a wider rallying call for action against violence targeting girls and women.
These incidents sadly bring into sharp focus the results of a study released in March, "School-Related Gender-Based Violence in the Asia-Pacific Region", which found violence in and around schools to be a serious problem plaguing education systems throughout the region.
The study, commissioned by UNESCO Bangkok and implemented in partnership with the East Asia Pacific UN Girls’ Education Initiative, detailed the devastating effects of this violence on the ability of youngsters to learn as well as the dearth of policy education to address the issue.
“Education plays a critical role in changing social norms to promote peace, non-violence and gender equality. It is important that education systems be strengthened to enable all learners to have the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need for healthy relationships based on mutual respect,” said Gwang-Jo Kim, Director of UNESCO Bangkok.
These incidents provide further weight to a growing body of case studies detailing how vulnerable young girls and women are in this region. According to Plan’s Adolescent Girls’ Views on Safety in Cities report (2013), which focuses on girls living in five big cities across the world, the fear of sexual violence is creating “no-go” areas for girls. The research shows girls living in urban areas experience regular threats to their safety in public spaces, transportation and facilities.
Since 1981, Plan Thailand has worked with the government, institutions, local partners, communities, families and children to promote and protect their rights to protection.
UNESCO Bangkok, the organization’s Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, is committed to ensuring that all children are able to learn in a safe and healthy environment and that extends to safety outside of the classroom.
Through the development of child safe environments and community-based protection mechanisms, children, families and the community are equipped with basic skills of protection and how to report child-abuse related incidents to the authorities.
For more information, please contact:
Noel Boivin, UNESCO Bangkok Media and Communications Officer, n.boivin@unesco.org
Naylinya Chappanapong, Plan Thailand Communications and PR Manager Naylinya.Chappanapong@plan-international.org
