Bangkok: In Taiwan, mothers can easily find quiet and clean spaces to breastfeed-a convenience that sometimes impresses visiting tourists. For Thai lawmaker Sasinan Thamnithinan, that small but striking detail during a visit years ago planted the seed for a political mission-one she is now pursuing in Thailand's Parliament.
According to Focus Taiwan, Sasinan was inspired by Taiwan's laws governing breastfeeding in public places, which impressed her when she studied them. In Thailand, relevant regulations are currently in the draft stage and have not yet been extended to broader public policies. Sasinan expressed her wish for Thailand to implement similar measures, noting that she often has to return home or visit department stores to breastfeed her baby due to the lack of facilities.
A human rights lawyer, Sasinan transitioned from court to parliament, becoming a Member of Parliament in 2023 and was reelected in February this year. During her time in office, she has advocated for amendments regarding maternity leave and workplace breastfeeding spaces, pushing for companies to provide private rooms and allotted time for female employees. Her legislative efforts are inspired by Taiwan's Public Breastfeeding Act enacted in 2010, which guarantees a woman's right to breastfeed in public and mandates certain establishments to provide dedicated rooms.
In addition to advocating for women's rights, Sasinan has been vocal about the gender inequality within Thailand's Parliament. Female lawmakers account for about 20 percent of the total, far below the nearly 40 percent representation in Taiwan's Legislative Yuan. Sasinan highlighted the challenges female lawmakers face in being heard during parliamentary debates and discussions, suggesting that political parties introduce gender quotas to address these issues.
Drawing on her background as a human rights lawyer, Sasinan acknowledges the challenges in advancing reforms, especially as her party, the People's Party, serves in the opposition following the February election. Despite this, she remains committed to pushing for change, emphasizing that while progress may be gradual, there is always room to move forward.