However, whether to accept this or not is the sole decision of the offender. Convicts who are willing to undergo chemical sterilization will receive a reduced prison sentence in exchange. This procedure requires the approval of two doctors.
Thailand, First Published Jul 13, 2022, 2:22 PM IST
Thailand has introduced a bill to subject sexual assault offenders to voluntary chemical sterilization. Under this, offenders deemed likely to commit sexual assaults after release may voluntarily undergo chemical castration. Such people should spend that much time in jail. However, those who do not wish to undergo chemical sterilization will not be exempted from prison terms. The country has come up with such a bill to reduce the number of criminals. Thailand came up with this bill on Tuesday.
The bill, which passed the lower house in March, was approved by 145 senators on Monday. However, once again the approval of the House and after that the approval of the King is required for the law to be passed. If all these hurdles are passed, then Thailand will be on the list of countries that have approved chemical sterilization. Poland, South Korea, Russia and Estonia are some of the other countries that have approved chemical sterilization. During chemical castration, sex offenders are given injections that lower their testosterone levels.
However, whether to accept this or not is the sole decision of the offender. Convicts who are willing to undergo chemical sterilization will receive a reduced prison sentence in exchange. This procedure requires the approval of two doctors. Moreover, the offenders will be monitored for ten years and wear electronic bracelets.
Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin said on Tuesday that the law should be implemented as soon as possible. He added that he did not want to hear any more news about the torture of women. Figures show that of the 16,413 sex offenders released from Thai prisons between 2013 and 2020, 4,848 reoffended. At the same time, the director of the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation, Jaded Chauvilai, said that chemical sterilization will not reduce sexual crimes.
It is a non-governmental organization dealing with sexual violence. He said that instead of this punishment, the mindset of the criminals should be changed and they should be educated about it while they are in jail. He also opined that the mindset of the accused should be changed and they should be rehabilitated.
He added that punishments such as death penalty and chemical fumigation imply the idea that the criminal can never be rehabilitated. Last year, Pakistan announced that sex offenders convicted of repeat offenses would face castration.
Last Updated Jul 13, 2022, 2:22 PM IST
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