Arrested Development: women’s rights hit roadblock in Thailand with ban on female police cadets
A police academy’s decision is the latest sign the junta is firing blanks when it comes to promoting gender equality
Gender equality advocates criticised a major Thai police training academy this week as “ignorant” and “on the wrong side of history” for its decision to ban women from its programmes next year.
The Royal Police Cadet Academy (RPCA), on the western edge of the capital, Bangkok, declined to explain why women candidates would no longer be accepted. It is considered the country’s main commissioning institute for budding law enforcement officers, particularly those hoping to be considered for top positions in the force.
Though women can still become non-commissioned officers at other institutes, analysts and women’s rights advocates said the decision would cut the number of women in the force and affect the treatment of female victims of sex-related crimes.
“The number of female officers is already not enough. There are not even women police at every police station”, said Usa Lerdsrisuntad, director of the Foundation for Women.
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She said women police officers were key to investigating sex-related crimes and assaults, particularly in interviewing victims. Without female officers, “women might feel embarrassed and they will be reluctant to report”, she said.