The fact that they want to re-classify homosexual rape and rape with inanimate objects to sexual obscenity degrades those who are a victim of these crimes and will serve only to keep these crimes from being reported as they should.

It’s never good policy to make it harder on the victims than the criminals.

My experience in the UK police, where the law regarding rape continues to be developed, both by Statute and Common Law was that many cases of rape within existing relationship (or relationships that are over) was not something that investigators relished dealing with.

Of course women and men deserve the full protection of the law but the legislators have to make the law usable by the forces of law and order.
Mike´s last blog ..Loi Krathong Khlong Wan Thailand 2009

‘These agencies are saying that the police and judicial system are finding it too hard to prosecute offenders and want to see a return to the more narrow rape laws.’

‘Forced oral sex, anal sex and male on male rape would be removed from the rape laws and be covered under the sexual obscenity laws.’

I don’t understand. If they are having a difficult time prosecuting under one law, what makes them think it will be easier prosecuting other another?

Laws do influence how citizens feel about an act. Calling rape an obscenity and not what it is, rape, may even weaken the sentence in the mind of the judges too.

Too many laws. Not enough laws. There is a delicate balance lawmakers must attain.
Catherine´s last blog ..Loi Krathong Song Lyrics

Until I read this post I didn’t know anything as such about Thai rape laws or the proposed amendment.

‘Unfortunately the law lacks protection for spousal rape, instead placing this issue in limbo by stating that this is a family problem that needs time to resolve within the family.’

I think the above needs to be addressed because values, morals, call them whatever you want are taught from a young age and primarily from within the family. If you are brought up in a loving family then there is every chance you will reproduce one.

We all know of the stories of Thai girls getting sexually abused from family members and this can have a massive psychological negative impact on the victim. This often leads to the person living their life with a big mistrust of all males. Correcting and hopefully punishing the spousal rapes will perhaps send a message of intent that might (grave doubts) filter back through society and into families in general.

Rape is rape and she or indeed he who has been raped can sometimes pillage and plunder another. I think implementing harsh spousal rape punishment is the key area in Thailand’s fight against one of the dirtiest and most vile of crimes.
Martyn´s last blog ..Thai Toilets – Get Me Out Of Here