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Koktail Magazine
09 Aug 2024
'The Future List 100' project is where we annually curate a list of 100 individuals who are making positive contributions to Thailand.
Check out this link to see our e-magazine for The Future List 2024.
For this week’s Friday Future List, we turn the spotlight on Jomtien Jansomrag, a passionate advocate for gender equality and mental health. As a self-described non-binary intersectional-feminist activist, Jomtien’s work addresses gender inequality and the stigma surrounding rape, driven by her personal experiences of marginalization and trauma.
Jomtien’s activism is deeply rooted in her personal history. Growing up in a marginalised environment, she faced severe challenges, including sexual violence and a lack of access to education. Her early life was marked by poverty, a neurotic mother, and near-homelessness. These experiences led Jomtien to seek understanding and healing, fueling her drive to change societal norms and fight against systemic violence.
“I grew up as a marginalised person, exposed to violence and various aspects of my identity being oppressed,”
Jomtien reflects.
“I had to understand why violence happened to me and how to take care of myself and those I love. This knowledge became the foundation of my activism.”
Jomtien’s work has made an impact on many survivors of gender-based violence. One of her notable contributions is her role in “Break the Silence TH,” a support group she founded in 2019. This group aims to provide a safe space for survivors and raise awareness about gender-based violence.
“In the early days of advocating for sexual violence, my role was to communicate and campaign, breaking the silence surrounding these issues in Thai society,”
Jomtien explains.
“We received millions of views on our #HearMeToo article, leading us to establish Break the Silence. This group allowed survivors to connect, support each other, and share their experiences.”
Initially, the group had over 150 members and organised five in-person activities. The initiative helped survivors feel less isolated and provided a platform for mutual support. Jomtien’s work in building this community has played a crucial role in establishing a strong support network for survivors.
Cultural attitudes, such as victim-blaming and the concept of karma, pose significant obstacles to supporting survivors. Jomtien highlights how these deeply ingrained beliefs impact the justice process and survivor support.
“Breaking the silence is crucial to challenging gender myths, stereotypes, and victim-blaming,”
she says.
“These issues are rooted in patriarchal structures and contribute to the systemic barriers survivors face. Even with increased legal penalties, if people don’t feel safe speaking up, the laws are ineffective.”
Jomtien also addresses the impact of cultural beliefs on survivors’ willingness to seek help. The concept of karma and societal expectations often discourage victims from coming forward. This creates a cycle where violence goes unreported and unpunished.
Currently, Jomtien serves as a Program Officer at the Raks Thai Foundation, overseeing migrant worker rights projects in 11 provinces across Thailand. She is also a board member and case management advisor for SHero Thailand and a feminist writer. Her varied roles showcase her dedication to advancing gender equality and championing marginalised communities.
In her previous role as a project coordinator for the Thailand Institute of Justice, Jomtien focused on domestic violence cases, providing crucial support to survivors navigating the legal system. Her work with SHero Thailand and Break the Silence further demonstrates her dedication to creating change.
Reflecting on her accomplishments, Jomtien acknowledges a sense of fulfilment, stating,
“This is an achievement for which we are satisfied with ourselves,”
she reflects.
“So we stopped talking and turned our attention to behind-the-scenes work.”
Her decision to step back from the public eye and focus on the intricacies of behind-the-scenes efforts speaks volumes about her understanding of the long-term nature of this struggle.
Jomtien’s strategic shift underscores her belief that the battle against gender-based violence is not a sprint but a marathon.
“It is also a very long-term job,”
she notes, explaining why she and her team chose to distil their journey into a single book, preserving their story as an immutable historical record.
“That’s why we wrote one book and left it as history—unaltered and preserved. Then, we moved on to focus on other areas of work.”
In moving away from the spotlight, Jomtien and her team have chosen to engage in less visible, yet critically impactful work. This behind-the-scenes focus allows them to continue driving change on a deeper level.
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