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UNFPA in Bhutan

UNFPA in Bhutan

UNFPA in Bhutan

UNFPA’s partnership with the Royal Government of Bhutan started in the 1970s, and formally began its operation by supporting the integration of family planning in the healthcare system. Building upon this collaboration, the first Country Programme started in 1988 along with Bhutan’s 6th Five-Year Plan (1987-1992). 

Some of the key collaborative highlights are:

1970

  • 34th National Assembly session endorsed the introduction of family planning in the health care delivery system.
  • Family Planning introduced in the selected districts with narrow range of contraceptive methods.
  • Primary Health Care approach adopted and family planning integrated in general health care system.

1980s

  • National Institute of family health established and family planning services integrated into the primary health care services.
  • Injectable Contraception (DMPA) introduced nationwide.

1990s

  • Bhutan participated in the International Conference on Population Development (ICPD) held in Cairo.
  • His Majesty the 4th Druk Gyalpo King Jigme Singye Wangchuck issued a Royal Decree on Population Planning for sustainable development.
  • His Holiness Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) endorses the book “Buddhist Perspective on Family Planning.
  • His Majesty the 4th Druk Gyalpo, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck issued a Royal Decree emphasizing women's participation at all levels of government and society.
  • Her Majesty The Queen Mother, Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck accepted the UNFPA Goodwill Ambassadorship.

2000s till date

  • Her Majesty The Queen Mother, Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck established Multi sectoral Taskforce in all 20 Dzongkhag (districts) to advocate on sexual reproductive health including STI and HIV/ AIDs.
  • Initiated Life Skills Education Programms in selected schools to impart knowledge and skills on Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights.
  • His Majesty the 4th Druk Gyalpo King Jigme Singye Wangchuck issued a Royal Decree on Prevention and Management of HIV/AIDs.
  • First modern population and housing census conducted.
  • Degree programme on Population and Development studies introduced at Sherbutse College, Kanglung.
  • Initiated Life Skills Education in monastic institutions.
  • Started Y-PEER network in the institutions.
  • Domestic Violence Prevention Act Passed by the Parliament.
  • Institutionalized partnership between Multi sectoral Task Force and Community based support system to respond to gender-based violence and violence against women issues.
  • Institutionalized comprehensive Domestic Violence Prevention Act of Bhutan 2013 sexuality education as compulsory non-credit module in teachers training college.
  • Integrated Social Messages into the national festivals (Tshechu Garcham Shedpa).
  • UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem presented Her Majesty The Queen Mother Sangay Choden Wangchuck, with an award celebrating twenty years as a UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, for her outstanding achievements in advancing sexual and reproductive rights throughout Bhutan.
  • Her Majesty The Queen Mother Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, was awarded the individual laureate for the 2020 UN Population Award in recognition of Her Majesty The Gyalyum’s outstanding contribution in raising awareness and devising solutions to population and reproductive health issues.
  • Comprehensive Sexuality Education Integrated into the national school curriculum from Pre-Primary to class XII.

8th Country Programme (2024-2028)

The country programme is inspired by the 2030 Agenda, particularly Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 5, 10, 13, 16 and 17. The programme and its three interconnected outputs will seek to accelerate the achievement of the ICPD Programme of Action, including the voluntary ICPD25 commitments made by Bhutan, the UNFPA Strategic Plan, 2022-2025, and the three transformative goals.

The program responds to the national priority “Bhutan has a healthy and productive society founded on Equitable and High-Quality Health, Education and Social Protection”, articulated in the Royal Government of Bhutan’s draft 13th Five Year Plan and contributes to Outcomes 2,3, and 4 of the UNSCDF of 2024-2028.

The country programme (2024-2028) envisions a Bhutan where every woman and young person, especially those from most vulnerable groups (senior citizen, person with disabilities and people with diverse sexual orientation and gender identity/expression & living in remote areas), enjoy gender equality, fully realizes sexual and reproductive health and rights, and fully contributes to sustainable development.

The programme focuses on the following key outputs for transformative results:

Output 1: Improved integration of sexual and reproductive health and rights and population data and evidence into relevant laws, policies, plans, and accountability frameworks.

Output 2: Strengthened policies, systems and capacities of institutions and communities for a coordinated multi-sectoral approach to change discriminatory social norms, and to advance gender equality with a special focus on those furthest left behind.

Output 3: Strengthened skills and opportunities for adolescents and young people in all their diversity, including adolescent girls from the furthest left behind populations to ensure bodily autonomy, leadership and participation in issues that affect their development and well-being.

 

Address:

United Nations Population Fund
UN House, Peling Lam
Post Box 162, Thimphu – 11001, Bhutan
Tel: PABX +975 2 322424/334570/71/72/73/74/75/76
Fax: +975 2 325264

Official Hours
Monday – Friday (0900-1730)

 

Key Results

Bhutan

Adolescent-friendly Sexual and reproductive health services

Quality assured, adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health services were provided in at least 25 per cent of public health facilities

Bhutan

Health services for sexual violence survivors

Essential health services were provided for survivors of sexual violence by at least 60 per cent of public health facilities

Bhutan

Midwifery curricula: international standards

Midwifery schools followed the national pre-service curriculum based on international standards

Bhutan

Life skills programmes for girls

2,259

Marginalized girls were reached with health, social and economic asset-building programmes

Bhutan

Advocacy platforms against harmful social norms

20

Communities developed advocacy platforms to eliminate discriminatory gender and sociocultural norms which affect women and girls

Bhutan

Community declarations on harmful practices

20

Communities made public declarations to eliminate harmful practices, with support from UNFPA, including child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation

What we do

UNFPA works in more than 150 countries and territories that are home to the vast majority of the world’s people. Its mission: to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

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UNFPA in CO
Country Representative

Country Representative

Mr. Sriram Haridass

Mr. Haridass, a national of Sri Lanka, brings with him over 18 years’ experience in strategic planning and programming, in both development and humanitarian contexts. Prior to joining UNFPA India, he served in UNFPA Sierra Leone, where in addition to overseeing the implementation of large-scale donor funded projects, he also coordinated UNFPA’s response to the Ebola crisis. Before that, Mr. Haridass spent nearly nine years with UNHCR in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and South Sudan.
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