In a move to enhance legal protections, the Cabinet has approved draft amendments to the Domestic Violence Victim Protection Act B.E. 2550 (2007) and the criminal code on online offenses against children. The bills, proposed by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and the Ministry of Justice, respectively, address growing concerns over domestic abuse and cyber-related crimes targeting minors.
The first bill expands the definition of domestic violence to include sexual harassment, actions intended to cause physical, mental, or health-related harm, and damage to a person’s reputation. It also significantly increases penalties for offenders, raising the maximum fine from 6,000 baht to 60,000 baht and introducing a prison sentence of up to six months. Repeat offenders and those who target minors under 18 will face penalties 50 percent higher than the standard punishment.
The Ministry of Justice’s second bill tackles child exploitation via online media, acknowledging that current laws have failed to keep up with digital threats. The proposed amendments outline clear penalties for five specific offenses, including online grooming, unwanted sexting, sextortion, online stalking, and cyberbullying.
Public hearings and impact assessments were conducted before drafting the amendments, with findings made available on the Ministry of Justice’s website. The proposed laws aim to create a safer environment for victims and provide authorities with stronger legal tools to address both domestic violence and online child exploitation.