Anyone with local knowledge of Thailand?

[clareabouts]

Hi there. I started a thread in Relationships about a friend who's travelling and is currently in Thailand, but has been physically attacked by her partner and is afraid to leave him. The folks over there suggested I might find some Thai-dwellers here who might be able to advise on a Thai equivalent of Women's Aid, or any similar organisations who would be able to help if she does decide to leave. Any thoughts or tips greatly appreciated.

Hi, which part of Thailand is she in?
I know there is a welfare for women association in Bangkok (or similar name). TBH though, they focus their work on prostitutes IIRC.

Sorry, just come back to this from thinking about it in the shower.
When you say she is travelling, is her P a Thai national or a farang?
If he is a national, surely she can just walk away from him and carry on with her travelling. It probably wouldn't hurt to report him to the police, Although if they are in BKK at the moment, they have other problems.
If he's a national, she could try Cabbages and Condoms. They are a NGO aimed at supporting women's contraception choices amongst other things.
Also, depending on her level of spoken Thai she could try the village headman or have a word at the temple.

Hi Clare, do you mind giving some more information? What nationality are your friend and her partner, and what city is she based in?

Especially if she's in Bangkok, Foundation for Women www.womenthai.org/eng/?page_id=2 may be able to help, though they usually work with Thai women and it may take some patience to find someone who can speak good enough English to be helpful.

Under the Domestic Violence Act the police ought to put her in contact with Social Welfare Services if she goes to them with a DV issue, but they may not bother as she's a foreigner, unless she's feeling strong enough to be very clear about what she wants to happen (which is unlikely, given the circumstances).

Thanks folks. I'm not sure whereabouts she is at the moment; she hasn't said. She and her partner are both foreign nationals (in Thailand).

Mmmango thanks for your PM - am going to follow your suggestions. Thanks again, guys.

I'm in Malaysia not Thailand but u do work at an international school as a CP liaison.
Are they the same nationality?
The police probably won't be interested, and culturally their standards of acceptable behaviour are different.

Do they have children? If she does and they are at international school, they will have procedures to protect the children, so might offer the most useful support.

If she wants a place of safety, she should contact the consular staff at her embassy. They won't be interested unless she has been seriously injured though

I'm sorry to hear this. I think she may struggle to get assistance from the Thai authorities. Are they working there or just travelling and are there children involved? Do they live together in the UK?

They live together in the UK, but they are different nationalities (neither is Thai). No children, just travelling for leisure. I've heard from her and she sounds very low. I've passed on the advice received here, thank you.