Universal Declaration of Human Rights A woman Victim of domestic violence “I now realize my rights and have reclaimed my dignity” Voice A woman who suffered physical abuse by her husband and later was granted a divorce shares her experience as a victim of domestic violence. She explains that the Thai Constitution stipulates that “We are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law,” following the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Some positive achievements she describes include the establishment of legal mechanisms to prevent such violence in Thailand. However, she asserts that there is still prejudice in society, including bias and stigma that allow women to be abused by their loved ones and which often make victims feel that they cannot stand up for their own rights. 36 Dignity and Justice for All of Us Despite the fact that domestic violence is illegal in Thailand, in practice, it is often tolerated by individuals and communities as a whole. “These attitudes mean that even if a victim stands up for her own rights, she is often criticized or marginalized by her community,” she explains. “This is an issue that affects society as a whole and is not limited to the marginalized and less privileged segments of society. I come from a wealthy family, I have a nursing degree, and have been a victim of domestic violence,” she continues. She reports that her husband beat her on a daily basis. However, his family, with whom the couple shared a home, failed to help her. She eventually managed to escape, and when her husband could not find her, he went to the media, claiming that she had run away for no reason. She was then encouraged to speak out and publically reveal the abuse she had suffered at the hand of her husband. She says she was very lucky that the Women’s Friends Foundation came to her rescue and that she had the right to file for divorce on the grounds of physical assault. She asserts that she began to realize the rights to which she was entitled when she was told that no one has the right over one’s own body without one’s own consent. “I do not blame myself anymore. I now realize my rights and have reclaimed my dignity as a human being,” she said. She says that friends and family were worried that she would bring them shame if she returned to live with them. She also notes that she faced prejudice by the state authorities with which she was in contact as well. They were most often men. When she filed the case against her husband, she said she had to bear the full burden of the case herself. “Fortunately, I was in a financial position to be able to take care of all the costs, but for many women this is not possible, and they are forced to quit pursuing their case,” she said. She recommends that specialized state-run organizations should provide help to women in need of moral support in cases of domestic violence, helping them to stand on their own feet to face their cases of domestic violence and divorce. Following her experience, she decided to pursue a law degree. At present, she is working as a columnist and speaker providing legal advice on women’s rights on television, as well as on behalf of several organizations. “This was not an easy struggle,” she adds.