Cop academy favours men

– The Thai police cadet academy’s decision to admit only male candidates from next year is “backward”, said women’s rights advocates, warning that it could discourage reporting of sexual assaults.

The Royal Police Cadet Academy announced this week that it will not admit female candidates from the next academic year. No reason was given in its statement posted online, and a spokesperson for the police department declined comment.

“This is a very backward move for women’s rights and women’s safety in Thailand,” said Jadet Chaowilai, director of the rights group Women and Men Progressive Movement.

In Thailand, nearly 90% of rape cases go unreported to the police, and rape is sometimes legitimised based on a woman’s past sexual history, according to a study published last year by United Nations Women. – Reuters

Bangkok