Riot police deploy water cannons and tear gas at protest outside Parliament

While hundreds and thousands gather at pro-democracy protests to call on government, constitutional and monarchy reform, Thai women’s rights activists attending the Bangkok rallies are raising awareness about sexual harassment and rape. The activists say they want to end the “victim blaming” culture where women are said to bring harassment and even rape upon themselves by dressing a certain way.

There is a cross over with the Bad Student movement, which has also been demanding greater scrutiny on the sexual abuse of student by teachers and education officials, mostly “swept under the carpet”.

At a recent protest, a group called “Women’s Freedom” and chanted “Sida Lui Faai,” a re-interpretation of the Chilean feminist group Las Tesis’s chant “Un Vialodor en Tu Camino,” meaning “A Rapist in Your Path.” The name Sida Lui Faai is taken from a chapter in…