As part of the proposed amendments, cuckolded husbands will also be able to demand compensation from their wives' lovers, while an engaged person is entitled to receive compensation from other people who they have sex with, rape or attempt to rape his or her fiance.

The proposed legal amendments also said that anyone living off income from prostitution would be punished under criminal law, in a move that clearly targets pimps or procurers.

The NLA yesterday passed the resolution by an overwhelming majority to accept the proposed amendments in principle. However, the details of the draft laws prompted debate.

Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjittha said the proposed amendments to the criminal code would make it an offence for individuals to rape a person who is not their wife or husband.  Under current laws, a rapist is defined as someone who rapes a woman who is not his wife.

"I am not sure whether society will accept this change," NLA member Khunying Nantaka Supraphatanant said. She feared any such legal amendment could offend women given that it was a shame if women forced men to have sex with them.

Another NLA member, Tuang Anta-chai, also questioned what evidence could be used against the abuser. "If a man rapes a woman and then lodges a complaint that he is the victim, what evidence will the authorities use?" Tuang asked.

NLA member Wallop Tangkhananu-rak was concerned about the proposed punishments against those living off prostitutes' incomes. "I know that this proposal aims to target pimps. But what about the prostitutes' children?" he said. 

NLA member Waemahadee Waeda-o said the fiancée clause would affect Muslim men because they were allowed to have up to four wives.