Abstract

PIP: In order to insure the participation of Thai women in the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Thai Grassroots Women's Forum was established in 1994. In seeking ways to improve women's status, the Women's Forum holds as its central position the statement that "Women must have the rights and opportunities to participate in all levels of decision-making processes." The policy implications of this statement affect many aspects of women's lives. In terms of health care, women must be given appropriate information about reproductive health, control over their own bodies must be guaranteed, and the Thai government must develop an occupational health service. All violence against women must be eradicated as a human rights violation, and victimized women must receive help and protection. Women laborers must be included in the labor policy-making process, and the Thai government must ratify International Labor Organization Conventions on workers' organizations, night-time work, rights to collective bargaining, and occupational health and safety. Governments should enact measures to protect women labor migrants, including those who work in the sex industry. The Thai government must support women's groups and provide opportunities for women to participate in government committees at every level. The composition of the Tambol (sub-district) Council should be equally divided between men and women. Finally, the Thai government must terminate any development plan which threatens the environment and must give communities the right to manage their natural resources and environment.