Jomtien Jansomrag

PROGRAMME OFFICER, RAKS THAI FOUNDATION

Industry :

Advocacy

Social :

Self-described as a non-binary intersectional-feminist activist, Jomtien is also a social worker, writer, and mental health survivor and advocate, actively opposing gender inequality and challenging stigmas surrounding rape. Having personally experienced a lack of support from both school and family, Jomtien embarked on the path of activism, attaining double degrees in counseling psychology and art education. With experience from her previous role as a project coordinator for the Thailand Institute of Justice, focusing on domestic violence cases, Jomtien now assists survivors throughout the justice process. This process is often overwhelming due to gender-biased laws and policies that impact the system, leading to secondary victimization—trauma caused by social reactions, inappropriate language, repeated questioning, and insensitive comments. The challenge is further compounded by Thailand's cultural top-down hierarchy, victim-blaming and the religious concept of karma. In 2019, Jomtien founded "Break the Silence TH," a support group for survivors of gender-based violence. Additionally, she established "Survivors Talk Thailand," the first Thai-language support group on Facebook that offers community and online counseling. Jomtien also organizes in-person meetings offering discussions on Thai law, art therapy, Muay Thai sessions, and trauma communication workshops.

Self-described as a non-binary intersectional-feminist activist, Jomtien is also a social worker, writer, and mental health survivor and advocate, actively opposing gender inequality and challenging stigmas surrounding rape. Having personally experienced a lack of support from both school and family, Jomtien embarked on the path of activism, attaining double degrees in counseling psychology and art education. With experience from her previous role as a project coordinator for the Thailand Institute of Justice, focusing on domestic violence cases, Jomtien now assists survivors throughout the justice process. This process is often overwhelming due to gender-biased laws and policies that impact the system, leading to secondary victimization—trauma caused by social reactions, inappropriate language, repeated questioning, and insensitive comments. The challenge is further compounded by Thailand's cultural top-down hierarchy, victim-blaming and the religious concept of karma. In 2019, Jomtien founded "Break the Silence TH," a support group for survivors of gender-based violence. Additionally, she established "Survivors Talk Thailand," the first Thai-language support group on Facebook that offers community and online counseling. Jomtien also organizes in-person meetings offering discussions on Thai law, art therapy, Muay Thai sessions, and trauma communication workshops.