Bhutan

Bhutan’s Members of Parliament Discuss Human Rights

The Human Rights Committee of the National Assembly of Bhutan organized a workshop on human rights awareness on 10^th February 2010 in Thimphu as part of its intent to interact and learn about issues related to human rights in Bhutan.

Participants included authorities of the law enforcement, judiciary, and the government including representatives from the Anti-Corruption Commission, National Commission for Women Children and UN agencies.

The workshop provided a timely opportunity for key national stakeholders, whose work is important for the protection of human rights of Bhutan's citizens, to share a common platform, and provide their perspectives.  It enabled all participants to better appreciate the role, activities, and also constraints, facing each one of the agencies represented in the workshop, and thereby enhanced their awareness of human rights in Bhutan.  The need for better coordination to avoid duplication and conflicting actions among agencies pertinent to the protection of human rights, and resource constraints facing them, were among the issues that were discussed at the workshop. UNDP's Regional Policy Advisor on Human Rights and Justice, Mr. R. Sudarshan who was also a participant at the workshop, made a presentation on international human rights perspectives. 

The Chair of the Human Rights Committee, Hon. Damcho Dorji, quoted the description of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the 'magna carta for mankind'.  He cited provisions of the Bhutan Constitution, and described democracy as the 'mother of all human rights'. And added, "We will ensure that the fundamental rights given by laws are protected and promoted."

The Human Rights Committee was established in June 2008 with the mandate to deliberate, inquire, investigate, review, recommend, legislate and draw attention and to give advice to any matters related to protection and promotion of human rights to the National Assembly.

The workshop was organized with advisory support from the UNDP.