As part of the International Women’s Day celebration and to streamline and enhance the existing services for women and children, Bhutan’s Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck launched four guidelines on March 8 in Thimphu, Kuensel reports.
According to reports, the four guidelines are Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on case Management for Women and Children in Difficult Circumstances, Guidelines for Accreditation and Management of Shelters Homes for Women and Children in Difficult Circumstances, Guidelines for Accreditation of Service Providers 2017 and Media Guidelines for Reporting on Women and Children.
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Chief programme officer of women’s division with the National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC), Ugyen Tshomo, said the guidelines would help in the implementation of Acts related to women and children.
Executive director of RENEW, Tandin Wangmo said the existence of domestic violence in a society is an indication of gender inequality.
She said that of the 420 clients RENEW received last year, 94 percent were women. “On the positive note, these 395 women had chosen to do something about the violence in their families. Not to accept abuse or to stay silent.”
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Works and human settlement minister Dorji Choden said that in a democratic system, the ready access to legal aid and legal advice for justice and protection of rights is necessary to capacitate women.
The SOP contains integral roles and responsibilities of stakeholders involved in dealing with women and children in difficult circumstances, and provide provisions on a range of care and support services from the registration of a case to its closure and post care services.
Media Guidelines for Reporting on Women and Children sets a minimum parameter for reporting, provides guidance to media, strengthens implementation of the existing legal and policy framework and role of media. It also aims to sensitise the coverage on women and children and to strengthen the existing codes of ethics in promoting and protecting the rights of women and children in Bhutan.
Ugyen Tshomo said the guidelines are for all implementers. “If there are no guidelines to implement the acts, there are chances of duplications during implementation.”
She added that apart from the stakeholders, NCWC through gender focal persons in every ministry and dzongkhags would also do the monitoring.