{"id":1797,"date":"2026-04-18T17:01:02","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T10:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/glossary\/domestic-violence\/"},"modified":"2026-09-30T08:34:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T01:34:38","slug":"domestic-violence","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/glossary\/domestic-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"Domestic Violence under Thai Law"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p><strong>Violence domestique<\/strong> (\u0e04\u0e27\u0e32\u0e21\u0e23\u0e38\u0e19\u0e41\u0e23\u0e07\u0e43\u0e19\u0e04\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e1a\u0e04\u0e23\u0e31\u0e27, <em>khwam runraeng nai khropkhrua<\/em>, \u00e9galement appel\u00e9 <em>family violence<\/em> ou <em>spousal abuse<\/em>) is any intentional act that causes physical, mental or health harm to a family member, or coerces a family member into an act they do not consent to, as defined in the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence Act B.E. 2550 (2007). The Act creates a specific offence, protection orders and a reporting system alongside the Criminal Code. For a foreigner it also matters in divorce and custody.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table des mati\u00e8res<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#what-the-2007-act-provides\">What the 2007 Act provides<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#where-a-foreigner-reports-it-and-what-to-keep\">Where a foreigner reports it and what to keep<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#domestic-violence-in-divorce-and-custody\">Domestic violence in divorce and custody<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#frequently-asked-questions\">Foire aux questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-the-2007-act-provides\">What the 2007 Act provides<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p><strong>Family member<\/strong> is defined widely: a spouse or former spouse, a partner living together without registration, children, adopted children, and others in the same household. The offence carries up to six months&#8217; imprisonment, a fine of up to 6,000 baht, or both (Section 4). It is a compoundable offence, so the victim can withdraw the complaint and settle, and the court is directed to favour rehabilitation, with counselling, community service and behaviour bonds as options. Settling the domestic violence offence does not wipe out a more serious Criminal Code offence committed by the same act, such as grievous bodily harm under Section 297, which the prosecutor can still pursue. Ordinary bodily harm under Section 295 is the exception: where it is committed as domestic violence, Section 4 makes it compoundable too.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p><strong>Protection orders<\/strong> are the practical heart of the Act. Once a case is reported, a competent official designated by the Minister under Section 10 can order temporary relief measures, including keeping the abuser out of the family home, while the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/glossary\/inquiry-official\/\">fonctionnaire enqu\u00eateur<\/a> investigates, and the court can order the abuser to leave the home, keep away from the victim, pay maintenance, attend treatment or refrain from contact; breach of an order is itself an offence. A complaint must be made within three months of the victim being in a position to make it. A 2019 Act meant to replace the 2007 law had its entry into force suspended, so the 2007 Act remains the one applied.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"where-a-foreigner-reports-it-and-what-to-keep\">Where a foreigner reports it and what to keep<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p>Report to the nearest police station, or call 191 for an emergency and 1300 for the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security hotline, which coordinates shelters and social workers. Larger public hospitals run a One Stop Crisis Centre where injuries are documented, producing the medical report a court will later want. The provincial Social Development and Human Security office can also bring the matter to court. A foreign victim reports in the same way as a Thai and can ask for an interpreter.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p>Evidence decides everything that follows: dated photographs, medical certificates, the police daily report, messages and witness names. A foreign spouse whose <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/glossary\/extension-of-stay\/\">prolongation de s\u00e9jour<\/a> depends on the marriage should take advice on immigration status before leaving the home, since a marriage extension ends with the marriage. Shelters and legal aid are covered in the guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/domestic-violence-in-thailand\/\">violence domestique en Tha\u00eflande<\/a>.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"domestic-violence-in-divorce-and-custody\">Domestic violence in divorce and custody<\/h2>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p>Violence is a ground for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/glossary\/contested-divorce\/\">divorce contest\u00e9<\/a>. Section 1516(3) of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/glossary\/thai-civil-and-commercial-code\/\">Code civil et commercial<\/a> covers serious harm or torture to the body or mind of the other spouse, and serious insult to the spouse or their ascendants; Section 1516(2) covers misconduct causing serious shame or injury. The one-year limit in Section 1529 runs from knowledge, but continuing abuse keeps the ground alive. A police report and a protection order are strong evidence in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/glossary\/family-court\/\">Tribunal de la famille<\/a>.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p>Dans <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/glossary\/child-custody\/\">garde d&#039;enfants<\/a> disputes the court decides on the child&#8217;s welfare, and proven violence against the other parent or the child weighs heavily against the abuser, up to supervised visitation or a transfer of parental power. Violence is not, by itself, a reason to alter the equal division of marital property.<\/p><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Derni\u00e8re r\u00e9vision : 30 septembre 2026.<\/strong> Sections 3 to 5, 7, 9 to 12 and 15 of the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence Act B.E. 2550 and Civil and Commercial Code sections 1516 and 1529 were read in the Thai text. Added: the 6,000 baht fine ceiling and who issues interim measures (section 10). The status of the 2019 replacement Act was not re-checked in this review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"frequently-asked-questions\">Foire aux questions<\/h2>\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Is domestic violence a crime in Thailand?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Yes. The Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence Act B.E. 2550 makes it an offence punishable by up to six months&#8217; imprisonment, a fine of up to 6,000 baht, or both, and serious injury is prosecuted under the Criminal Code as well. It is a compoundable offence, so the victim can settle, and the court can order counselling or a behaviour bond instead of prison.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-2\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Where can a foreigner report domestic violence in Thailand?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>At any police station, by calling 191 in an emergency, or through the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security hotline on 1300. Public hospitals with a One Stop Crisis Centre document injuries and refer victims to social workers. A complaint should be made within three months of the victim being able to make it.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-3\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Is domestic violence grounds for divorce in Thailand?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Yes. Section 1516(3) of the Civil and Commercial Code allows a divorce for serious harm or torture to the body or mind of the other spouse, and Section 1516(2) for misconduct causing serious injury or shame. Medical reports, police records and any protection order are the evidence the Family Court expects.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><p>Voir aussi\u00a0: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/glossary\/ground\/\">Motifs de divorce<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/glossary\/contested-divorce\/\">divorce contest\u00e9<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/glossary\/child-custody\/\">garde d&#039;enfants<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/glossary\/compounding-offense\/\">infraction transigeable<\/a>, et les guides pour <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/domestic-violence-in-thailand\/\">violence domestique en Tha\u00eflande<\/a> ET <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thailawonline.com\/fr\/contested-divorce-in-thailand\/\">divorce contentieux en Tha\u00eflande<\/a>.<\/p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Domestic violence (\u0e04\u0e27\u0e32\u0e21\u0e23\u0e38\u0e19\u0e41\u0e23\u0e07\u0e43\u0e19\u0e04\u0e23\u0e2d\u0e1a\u0e04\u0e23\u0e31\u0e27, khwam runraeng nai khropkhrua, also called family violence or spousal abuse) is any intentional act that causes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":214,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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