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General, and sponsored by Norwegian Association of Women Jurists/NORAD/FOKUS.
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In its 11 edition since 1998, the seminar aimed to expose members of the judiciary
from all over the country to feministsû views on the Thai legal system.
çWe invite Thai judges and justice workers to question whether relevant laws
perpetuate or eliminate gender bias, whether the state is really neutral in issuing laws, or

whether so-called ùfair judgementsû are based on a male-dominated thinking process,é
said FORWARDûs president Assoc Prof Virada Somsawasdi, who is also asking for the

launch of a çGender Justice Networké along with an award to honour those fighting for
womenûs rights.
Virada, a law professor who founded the first Womenûs Studies Centre in Thailand 23

years ago, says that feminism looks at a law as a tool and action of state power.
çSuppression of women is rooted deep in society. It isnût just an add-on,é she said.

The Domestic Violence Act in 2007, despite being written with good intentions, has
numerous loopholes, points out Sithisakdi Vanachakij, chairman of the Justice of Appeal
Court of Law.†

çThere are not enough female investigators who really understand the sensitive
issues of women and children. And in many cases, it is the perpetrators rather than the
victims who gain advantage from the law.醆††

The Human Trafficking Act, said Assistant Prof Suchada Taweesit of Mahidol Universityûs
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Population and Social Research Institute, was written with the belief that prostitution is a way
out of poverty, not on the basis that women who entered this occupation were victims.†

çBut in reality, a point to ponder is whether a womanûs choice to become a prostitute
is freely willed.é

To understand unprecedented events in modern Thai society, we cannot stick to old
ways of thinking -- new paradigms and analytical tools are needed, said Shalardchai Ramitanond
of Chiang Mai Universityûs Women Studies Centre.†

çFor the environment, there is sustainability theory while in development there are
several alternative theories. For the legal system however, a new paradigm has yet to be

considered.é
Judge Suntariya Muanpawong of the Judicial Training Institute supported the point:
çA new paradigm is vital because numerous limitations exist in the system. For instance, a

rigid hierarchy of seniority hinders open-forum development of fresh ideas. And in many
cases judges are biased not because of corruption but because they lack a ùgender-equality
lensû. There is also the problem that many people still misinterpret the feminist viewpoint

as promoting privileges for women.é

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