Transgender inmates in Thailand are to be separated from the general prison population in an attempt to ensure their safety. The announcement was made by local LGBTI rights group, Thai Transgender Alliance, and the programme will be piloted at Min Buri prison in Bangkok. According to the group it is estimated that 1.5 percent of the population in Thailand identify as either transgender or third gendered. Jetsada Taesombat of the group says “While the population is not a large one, this campaign is not about the numbers but about protecting individuals from abuse.” The Bangkok Post reports that female transgender prisoners at Pattaya Remand Prison had previously been separated from the general population of the male prison as they had been victims of abuse at the hands of male inmates. According to the Thai Department of Corrections, openly LGBTI inmates account for one percent of the total number of prisoners, with 34 identifying as transgender, 4448 LGBTI identified women and 2156 identified men.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 11th July 2016 - 2:15pm