Chompoo – Tamtang Coordinator
In 2010 there was a big news story in Thailand when over 2000 fetuses were found in a temple in Bangkok. There were suddenly lots of people talking in a really stigmatising way about abortion. The headlines were quoting opinions about abortion from the police, monks, doctors, politicians, and men – basically everybody but the women who were actually having abortions. Everyone was pointing the finger, talking about karma, and trying to shame those of us who have had abortions.
I started writing about my own experience of abortion.
I was tired of seeing all the judgement and misinformation so I started a blog. I shared my own experience with abortion. After some time, some other women started to write about their abortion stories too. Then one day, a woman wrote to me saying she needed to have an abortion and wanted to know where to go.
By that time I had already been working with an organisation called Women on Web, helping to translate their website, and I was connected with the ‘Choice Network’ so I knew some providers of abortion in Thailand. So I started giving practical information on the blog to help people connect to services.
The next year there was a big flood in Thailand and I had to flee to Pattaya with my family before it hit Bangkok. I wasn’t sure if I’d still be able to connect to the internet to respond to the women asking for help so I started giving out my phone number and that’s how the phone counselling for abortion first started.
In 2020, the court ruled that the existing law criminalising abortion in Thailand was unconstitutional.
This major turning point came about because of the case of a doctor who was arrested for providing abortions. The doctor, with the support of civil society organisations, wrote a letter to the Constitutional Court to request that it rule on whether the legal restriction of abortion contradicted a woman’s right to have autonomy over her own body.
The court eventually ruled that the abortion regulations did violate a woman’s right to life and liberty and gave the government 360 days to amend them.
Parliament changed the law in 2021, allowing for abortion on request but only in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
But speaking to women who are having abortions we know that this step in the right direction is not enough. There are still many barriers when it comes to actually accessing safe abortions, depending on where you live, which doctor you visit, and how much money you have.
Tamtang has brought abortion rights into the spotlight in different ways.
Throughout all the advocacy to change the law, we have made sure the public is aware and engaged. That abortion is seen as a matter of democracy over one’s own body. We take part in public protests, we share information on social media, and we lobby decision makers to improve the law and its implementation. I believe that Tamtang’s invitation for two doctors to speak with the committee helped influence them to extend the legal time limit. I’m proud that even as a small group we can have a big impact like that.
I’m proud that we let women know that they can have an abortion and be OK, that they will not be alone in making that decision.
There are still things I want to see change when it comes to abortion in Thailand. I wish that abortion and post-abortion care could be provided properly by the State, in safe environments. 99.5% of births in Thailand happen in hospitals, why is abortion different? The cost of abortion should be covered fully by the government.
We should have access to abortion pills over the counter, and women should be able to conduct their own abortions, or consult doctors without fear and shame.