Equality between men and women has been a goal of the United Nations since its inception. The 1945 Preamble to the UN Charter notes its objective “to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small.”

[Click here to read more…]

Millions of children make their way through life impoverished, abandoned, uneducated, malnourished, discriminated against, neglected and vulnerable. For them, life is a daily struggle to survive. Whether they live in urban centres or rural outposts, they risk missing out on their childhood – excluded from essential services such as hospitals and schools, lacking the protection of family and community, often at risk of exploitation and abuse. For these children, childhood as a time to grow, learn, play and feel safe is, in effect, meaningless.

[Click here to read more…]

The two-day Regional Consultation for the UN Study on Violence against Children was organized by the South Asia Coordinating Group against Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking of Children and Women and hosted by the Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 19-20 May 2005 in Islamabad . Immediately prior to the Regional Consultation, a consultation of children and young people from the region was organized on 17-18 May 2005, to prepare them to participate in the Regional Consultation.

[Click here to read more… ]

2005 marks the fifth anniversary of the UN Millennium Declaration, adopted in 2000 and the tenth anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995. In the decade since Beijing, the number of people living on less than $1 a day has fallen; the gender gap in primary and (to a lesser extent) secondary education has been reduced; and women enjoy greater participation in elected assemblies and state institutions. In addition, women are a growing presence in the labour market– the global indicator used to approximate women's economic status (UN 2005).

[Click here to read more… ]

The Inter-Parliamentary Union, the world organisation of Parliaments, and UNICEF, the organisation mandated by the United Nations to promote and ensure respect for the rights of children, have worked together to produce this handbook for parliamentarians.

[Click here to read more… Dzongkha]
[Click here to read more… English]

Bhutan is one of the world’s most striking countries. Geographically it is dramatic. Snowcapped peaks line the horizon, while the mountains and hills overshadow steep gorges through which rush myriad streams and rivers. Just as impressive are the human imprints on this dramatic landscape. Buddhist monks have sought isolation by siting temples and monasteries on steep mountainsides and in remote places. Across the precipitous slopes of the lower Himalayas, generations of farmers have carved terraces to create cascades of orchards, vegetable plots, wheat-fields and glistening rice paddies. In valleys and on hillsides, the main human settlements are dominated by majestic dzongs: traditional fortresses built on spurs of rock visible for miles in several directions. Even private houses still preserve most of their traditional structures and decorate their wooden frameworks with elaborate painted designs.

[Click here to read more…]

The General Assembly in its resolution GA 58/282 decided to convene a commemorative plenary session in 2007, the mid decade point for the "Plan of Action for a World Fit For Children" [WFFC], to review progress made since the 2002 UNGA Special Session on Children.

In the preparation of this review, the Royal Government in collaboration with the National Women and Children Commission [NCWC] and UNICEF Bhutan have recruited an independent international consultant and an independent national consultant to carry out a national review of progress towards the goals and strategies for children contained in national commitments to creating a Bhutan Fit For Children. In concurrence to the Guidelines, Bhutan has prepared the country progress report on the WFFC Plan of Action to be submitted to the UN Secretariat before the end of 2006 using the framework based on the suggested format. A Task Force for the WFFC review and report was formed with representatives from key ministries of the Royal Government and the NCWC, and in close collaboration with UNICEF provided guidance and assistance in the consultative process of preparing this country progress report.

[Click here to read more…]

This is the second progress report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for Bhutan . As with the first MDG Status Report published in 2002, the MDG Status Report for 2005 tracks the current state of progress in achieving the eight MDGs, highlights the important challenges and identi?es the priority areas for development intervention. The assessments will notably help in engaging decision makers and development planners as well as in effectively mobilizing civil society, the general public and the media in supporting the attainment of the various targets.

[Click here to read more…]

Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are legally bound to put its provisions into practice. They are also committed to submit national reports on measures that they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.

Bhutan signed the CEDAW in 1980 and ratified it in 1981, without any reservation.

[Click here to read more… Dzongkha]
[Click here to read more… English ]

[Click here to read more… ]

[Click here to read more]

The vision of His Majesty the King is an inspiration for the young people of Bhutan to grow up as responsible, productive and happy citizens of the country. For this to happen, the Royal Court of Justice recognizes the need for Bhutanese children and youth to grow up as informed citizens, prepared to live a full and harmonious life in society. Children and youth must, therefore, be made aware of the laws of the land and of their rights as citizens of Bhutan .

[Click here to read more]

On 23rd December 2005, the National Commission for Women and Children conducted a Briefing for the Parliamentarians from Haa and Paro on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), Violence against Women and Child Protection Issues.

[Click here to read more… ]

National Gender Focal Points (GFP), members of the National Commission for Women and Children, members of the donor community, civil society and students met at the Namsay Choeling Resort in Paro from 7th-9th November 2005 to develop a framework for the National Plan of Action for Gender (NPAG).

[Click here to read more… ]

The National Consultation on Women and Child Friendly Police Procedures was held from the 18th to 21st of October in Thimphu, jointly organized by the National Commission for Women and Children and the RBP Head Quarters.

[Click here to read more… ]

Participants were welcomed by Dr. Rinchen Chophel, Executive Director, National Commission for Women and Children. Dr. Chophel introduced the speakers and participants, who included gender focal points and senior planning staff from various Ministries and Departments, members of the NCWC working group, donors and other development partners.

[Click here to read more…]

The two day consultation with adults and children was organised and conducted by the National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC), in collaboration with UNICEF. The NCWC is the main agency charged with the responsibility of promoting and protecting children and women's rights in Bhutan .

[Click here to read more… ]

The report is a step in a process that seeks to understand protection factors affecting children, and inform policy and practice to protect them. ‘Protection’ for children implies a multi pronged strategy targeted at the various duty bearers, institutions physical and social; and the media, that are responsible for the protection of children in varying degrees and in different roles.The purpose of this report, an outcome of an assessment commissioned by the Royal Government of Bhutan, is to flag issues regarding protection factors affecting children in Bhutan. The report brings to the forefront the situation of children with regard to their safety; and a of review legislation related to ‘protection factors’ in the framework of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) .

[Click here to read more ]