Thailand recently approved a new law that criminalises marital rape. Offenders now face up to 20 years in jail and a fine of 40,000 baht.

Thailand's National Legislative Assembly recently passed a new law that criminalises marital rape in a 118-5 vote on June 20, 2007.

With the new anti-rape law, it is now illegal for a husband to have sex with his wife without her consent. Offenders now face a fine of 40,000 baht or $1,156 and up to 20 years in jail.

The existing rape law could not be used to prosecute a husband who forced sex on his wife as it defines a rapist as a person who forcibly has sex with a woman who is not legally married to him.

“We have been trying to get them to get rid of that clause for a long time...it implicitly gives husbands a green light to rape their wives with impunity, so this is very good news,” said Usa Lertsrtsanthad of the Foundation for Women, a nongovernment organisation based in Bangkok.

Women's rights activists are however wary that even with the new law, it will still be difficult for women to report rape cases. Although the new law is a significant first step, it will take many more social and political changes before rape victims will be able to speak out freely.

“The attitudes of the police, prosecutors, and doctors are very important in facilitating the process and making it easier for women to report rape cases. A lot of women still choose to remain silent because they are threatened by the legal process and what may happen to them before the rapists are brought to justice,” said Usa Lertsrtsanthad.

Sources:
“New Anti-Rape Law in Thailand” from the Feminist Daily News Wire, posted on June 25, 2007, <http://www.feminist.org/news/newsbyte/uswirestory.asp?id=10379>.
“Thai Law Expands Definition of Rape” from the Associated Press, posted on June 21, 2007, <http://www.wtopnews.com/?nid=105&sid=1172369>.