SOS 1134

Abuse Help Hotline

‘JJ’ Jeremy Johanson

 

Everyday, children and woman are abused. They are scared and can not always turn to the powers that be for assistance.

Who can they turn to? Khun Pavena Hongsakul !

This VERY active member of Parliament is Thailand’s leading figure in the fight for women’s and children’s rights. In 1999, she founded the ‘Pavena Foundation’.

In the year 2001, over 3500 people were helped by the Pavena Foundation. As of June of this year, 2079 people have counted on the Foundation for aide. Cries for help range from prostitution and rape, to cruelty, unfair child labour, family conflicts, aide in schooling or assistance in seeking justice.

When victims of abuse have no where else to go, a simple phone call to #1134, will activate Khun Pavena’s powerful arm to bring justice to those in need.

Pavena Hongsakul

“The Pavena Foundation helps women and children who are in trouble. For example, victims of rape or children & women who are forced to be prostitutes. Take last night. I received a phone call from a grandmother in Yasothorn Province. She was crying. Three of her young nephews had been raped by their step-uncle. When she asked for help from the police, nothing happened. So she called me for help. I immediately called the Yasothorn Police Commissioner and the uncle was arrested within the hour.

People in trouble get depressed and feel they have no one to turn to. They come from all over the country and can arrive at any hour of the day. We offer them a place to sleep and rest, while we determine the best way to help them. That is why the Pavena Foundation for Children & Women is open 24 hours a day, to help those in trouble, especially children and those forced into prostitution.”

A poor girl, forced to be a prostitute in Hat Yai, ran away from the brothel where she was forced to work unwillingly. Being quite sick, she went to a local hospital where, upon learning of her story, the director of the hospital immediately called Khun Pavena, who flew down to take care of her. The girl was in such a bad state she could not walk.

Rape is a terrible crime. This is made even worse in the case of violent rapes. This 12-year-old girl was not only raped, but her throat was cut with a knife, as well as broken glass having cut her legs. It was 6:00 a.m. when her brother learned of his sister’s horror and called the police. But, since it was the end of their shift, the police were not inclined to take on this extra duty. The brother reacted by calling Khun Pavena who immediately took charge and called the Police Chief. The rapist was arrested 3 days later in another province.

Bangkok’s famous Soi Nana, is not fun for everyone. 3 Vietnamese girls, aged 8, 9 & 12, where sold into prostitution by their own parents, where they were forced to service the local clientele.

Khun Pavena explained; “We help in many different ways. It depends on the case. For instance rape is not very difficult. We just call the police. But children and young girls forced into prostitution is more difficult to resolve. We have to send our own staff to discover the truth. If it’s true, I personally contact the Chief of Police. This has to be done in secret, because of the Mafia. Helping these cases has to be well planned. Then, I usually have to go in by myself, because I am not afraid of the prostitution Mafia…THEY ARE AFRAID OF ME !”

‘ Bo’ Chayada Lewchalermvongse

“Children are the most important part in creating this world. Not many people, especially rich people, take an interest in helping children. Everyday, Khun Pavena is doing something to help. She is never asleep. She sacrifices herself for these children. This is really important, because if someone helps somebody else, and they in turn help another person, it becomes a chain of help. I’m very happy to help also.”

 Jantana Khampanya

Teacher / Souensasongkrot Bangkruai School

“I think Khun Pavena is doing a very good job. She gives pupils who want to study, a chance! The girls here come from many provinces around Thailand and are happy now. They learn and play sports and have a happy life. Yes, Khun Pavena is really helping these children.”

This 6-year-old boy fell victim to his own grandmother’s zealous ambitions. When he had not done his homework as required, she punished him by burning his private parts.

As Khun Pavena says; “The first step in helping children, is to teach them not to be afraid. Parents should teach their children to speak up, if they are touched where they shouldn’t be. For instance, when raped the victim should not lose their dignity. They have done nothing wrong. The criminal is the one who raped them!”

‘Fluke’ Krirkphol Masayavanich

“Before the Pavena Foundation was set-up, there was no real organisation directly helping abused woman and children. It is very important that people can rely on Khun Pavena and can call her 24 hours a day. She actually does the job. It’s not publicity. She REALLY gets involved and REAL action is taken. Children are very important and if we don’t help them now, they won’t grow up to become full-functioning adults. If they grow up as a better person, that will help our country’s future. So, I hope that her work continues, because you can see that there are still a lot of problems everyday. But I hope that one day these problems in Thailand will all be over.”

One day… if we are all vigilant and lend a hand, stories of abuse will be a sad memory of the past. It is the duty of all of us to help victims of abuse. If you see a child in trouble, or girls and women forced into situations against their will, remember this simple number, 1134… has the power to bring justice to their fight.

        

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