LocationsThailand partners mark 16 Days of Activism with joint call to strengthen protections against gender-based violence
December 13, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand – To mark the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign with a national public forum, the European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women, Westminster Foundation for Democracy and the King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI), have joined forces to end gender-based violence in all spaces – from families to digital platforms. The event brings together agents of change mobilizing parliamentarians, government agencies, civil society, independent bodies and development partners to discuss legal, policy and advocacy efforts to prevent and address gender-based violence (GBV) in Thailand.
This year’s campaign follows the global theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls”, drawing attention to the rapid rise of technology-facilitated forms of abuse, such as online harassment, stalking, doxxing and gendered hate speech. Women in politics, journalists and human rights defenders face particularly acute risks, underscoring the urgency of stronger protections and effective accountability.
The forum takes place as Thailand continues to strengthen its legal and policy framework. Current reforms, including amendments to the Anti-Sexual Harassment Law and the Victims of Domestic Violence Protection Bill, signal growing commitment to addressing evolving forms of violence.
“Ending violence against women and girls requires actions that address harmful behaviours across all spaces, including the digital sphere,” said Maria Holtsberg, Deputy Regional Director, UN Women Asia and the Pacific and Co-Chair of the UN Gender Theme Group in Thailand. “Today’s event reflects a shared determination to strengthen Thailand’s protections and ensure that all women and girls can live free from violence.”
At a regional level, there has been an uptick in laws and policies to address technology-facilitated violence against women and girls, with more than 90 per cent of measures adopted since the 2030 Agenda was forged in 2015, and with the Asia-Pacific region taking the lead.
The discussions also respond to the 2025 Convention on the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Concluding Observations, the Beijing+30 review and Sustainable Development Goal 5 on Gender Equality targets, which all call for enhanced access to justice, improved data systems and more gender-responsive legislation.
The European Union welcomed the initiative as an opportunity to reinforce cooperation across sectors. “Tackling GBV demands collective leadership,” noted Tom Corrie, Head of Cooperation for Malaysia, Mongolia, Thailand, Delegation of the European Union to Thailand. “Thailand’s ongoing reforms demonstrate meaningful progress towards its commitments under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Sustainable Development Goals.”
This 16 Days of Activism (25 November–10 December), we call for united action to build a world where technology becomes a force for equality rather than harm. The scale of violence against women and girls demands urgency: globally, one in three women experience GBV in their lifetime, between 16 and 58 per cent of women and girls face digital violence, and an alarming 90 to 95 per cent of all deepfake videos are sexually explicit images of women.
“Democratic institutions have a clear responsibility to uphold the rights and safety of all women and girls, including in online spaces,” said Katchada Prommachan, Westminster Foundation for Democracy Country Director in Thailand. “By strengthening legal safeguards, promoting accountability and encouraging meaningful participation, we can engage allies and resources from parliaments, political institutions, CSOs, and the media to proactively combat online violence to ensure that Thailand’s digital and political landscapes are environments where women can lead, engage, and thrive without fear of violence.”
The programme includes two panel discussions: one on strengthening legal frameworks to address sexual harassment both online and offline, and another on digital violence, focusing on the responsibilities of technology companies, regulators and the media in preventing and responding to online abuse.
KPI further highlighted the role of parliament in driving these reforms. “Effective legislation is essential to safeguarding rights and responding to emerging threats,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gamolporn Sonsri, Assistant Secretary-General of King Prajadhipok’s Institute. “We are committed to working with partners to support a more gender-sensitive parliamentary environment.”
The forum reinforces a united call to accelerate Thailand’s efforts to prevent GBV, support survivors, and ensure that both physical and digital environments are safe, inclusive and equitable for women and girls.
“There is no excuse for online abuse,” emphasized Christine Arab, UN Women Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific. “Awareness is not enough. We need to act – together.”
Media inquiries:
Suparnee Jay Pongruengphant
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor, UNDP Thailand
Mobile: +66 8 1714 3954
Email: suparnee.pongruengphant@undp.org
Montira Narkvichien
Chief of Communications for Asia and the Pacific
UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Mobile: +6681 6688900
Email: montira.narkvichien@unwomen.org
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About the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign led by UN Women under the UNiTE to End Violence against Women initiative. It runs each year from 25 November to 10 December, connecting the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Human Rights Day.
In 2025, the campaign focuses on ending digital violence against all women and girls – one of the fastest-evolving forms of abuse worldwide. Digital violence includes online harassment, stalking, gendered disinformation, deepfakes and non-consensual sharing of intimate images, all of which are rising sharply as technology advances.
The 2025 UNiTE campaign calls on governments, technology companies and communities to act now – to strengthen laws, end impunity and hold platforms accountable. It urges sustained investment in prevention, digital literacy and survivor-centred services. It also calls for long-term support to women’s rights organizations that are leading efforts to make digital spaces safe and inclusive for all.
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