Bhutan Women

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Bhutan Women
Bhutan Women and Children Organisation (BWCO) is an independent non-profit and non-governmental human rights organisation. It was established on November 23, 1990 in exile by the Bhutanese women to organise themselves for the establishment of democracy; protection, promotion and defence of democratic values, human rights, womenÌs and child rights in Bhutan.

Bhutan is ruled by an absolute monarchy. It does not have a Constitution or Bill of Rights. The section of society most notably excluded from the process of development in Bhutan in terms of both the beneficiaries and the contributors - is women. Women population, which comprises almost half of the total population in Bhutan, has been so far neglected, discriminated and exploited. They have been deprived of most of the opportunities including access to business and industry, gainful employment, skill development training, education, health etc. They do not have access to education, gainful employment, economic resources, political process and decision-making institutions. Their representation at the policy and decision making bodies is negligible. In total, the status of women is very low in Bhutan.

Who started the group and why?

In the eighties, the government of Bhutan implemented a series of discriminatory policies in the Southern Bhutan. The southern Bhutanese people organised protest rallies in all six districts of southern Bhutan in protest against the abuses of their human rights. The government security forces came heavily upon southern Bhutanese. They resorted to such inhuman tactics as torture, killing in custody, indiscriminate arrests, loot, rape, plunder and burning of the houses of southern Bhutanese, finally compelling them to leave their home in fear.

Thus, in the wake of wide spread abuses of human rights in the southern districts, a group of grassroots Bhutanese women established Bhutan Women and Children Organisation (BWCO) on November 23, 1990 in exile. It was formed in exile by Bhutanese women to organise themselves for the protection, promotion and defence of womenÌs and child rights, and advancement and empowerment of women in Bhutan. It was necessary to form this group, because of the absence of any womenÌs organisation working for their rights. BWCO is the first and pioneer womenÌs and childrenÌs organisation of Bhutan.

All Bhutanese human rights organisations, human rights activists and political parties are required to work in exile under exceptionally difficult situation, as there is a complete ban on the formation of unions, associations, organisations, human rights organisations and political parties in Bhutan by the government. They function in three countries, in Nepal their host country, India, the transit country, and Bhutan their home.

BWCO believes that practical application of international instruments, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, gender justice and gender equality are indispensable for achievement of womenÌs real empowerment, gender equality, gender justice and social justice.

Areas of work

Establishment of democracy and human rights in Bhutan

Human rights, women's rights child rights.

WomenÌs human rights : Gender issues, gender equality, gender justice and social justice

Violence Against Women

Reproductive rights and health

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

Sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking of women and children

Empowerment of women and uplifting the status of women

Child rights and Child labour

Education, training, awareness and leadership development

Propagation of international instruments on womenÌs human rights and gender equality

Advocacy and networking

Research, documentation, case studies and publication

Structure of BWCO

It's structure and objectives have been already laid down in its Articles of Association or the Constitution. The Constitution is clear about the structure, the powers and responsibilities of Board and staff of BWCO. The President of BWCO is the Chief Executive of BWCO. She is also the chairperson of its Board of Directors. She is appointed by the Board of Directors for a period of five years and shall be eligible for re-election. She prepares project proposals and submit to the funding agencies and submit the accounts of expenditure to them as agreed upon. The treasurer is responsible for the entire financial transactions of BWCO. The Board of Directors has the powers to formulate the plans, programmes and policies of BWCO. It also has the powers to approve the budget and conduct the audit of the accounts of BWCO.

The day-today decisions are taken by the President in consultation with the volunteer staff. The President discusses all matters relating to the organisation and its work with its staff- volunteers staff and the Treasurer. Such discussions are held as per the need. The President needs to seek the approval of the Board on all matters relating to the policy matters. The President in consultation with the staff prepares necessary document and proposals for seeking approval of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors examines the proposal and document. The Board of Directors by majority votes approves or rejects the proposal. It gives its advice as per the need. The President also submits statement of all financial transaction to the Board of Directors. There are nine volunteers and 25 members

As a not for profit, and non-governmental organisation, BWCO depends on voluntary donations from the individuals and international funding agencies to implement its human rights programmes. As an exiled women rights organisation, BWCO does not have any regular sources of funding. It cannot raise funds internally. It is also finding very difficult to generate internal funds. The Government of Bhutan arrests, imprisons and evicts a person along with his family from the country, if he/she is found to contributing fund to any Bhutanese or Bhutanese NGO in exile. Thus, ninety nine percent of BWCO's programmes are funded by the overseas funding agencies.








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