Bhutan commits to ending all forms of violence against children

THIMPHU, November 8 2024: Bhutan joined countries from around the world to end all forms of violence against children at the first global ministerial conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogota, Columbia. 

Education and Skills Development Minister Yeezang De Thapa, who led the national delegation made the Royal Government of Bhutan’s pledge to take a multi-sectoral approach to strengthen and expand the child protection system, improve access to justice for child victims and witnesses, enhance mental health and social support services nationwide, scale up programs to promote wellbeing and prevent violence in schools nationwide and strengthen aftercare programs for children affected by violence.

On the sidelines of the conference, the Minister also met with UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director, Programmes, Omar Abdi and the Special Representative to the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children Dr. Najat Maalla M'jid to advance the agenda on ending violence against children.

The Global Ministerial Conference, held from November 7-8 represents the first time that all governments of the world will convene to commit to prevent violence against children – accelerating action to deliver SDG 16.2

Violence against children – whether physical, emotional, or sexual – is a global crisis happening in homes, schools, communities, and online. Its impacts are severe, leading to injuries, sexually transmitted infections, mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and death. Early exposure can cause toxic stress, affecting brain development, and lead to aggression, substance abuse, and criminal behaviour.

According to the National Health Survey 2023, more than 80 per cent of children aged 1-14 years reported being disciplined using some violent method over the past month. Of them, 73.5 per cent were subjected to psychological aggression.

Highlighting the significant acceptance of physical punishment as a disciplinary method, the survey found that about 30 per cent of mothers or caregivers believe that a child needs to be physically punished. This also underlined among others, strong social and cultural norms that accept the use of violent child disciplinary measures.

Among the 60.1 percent of children experiencing physical punishment, 18.3 percent experienced severe physical punishment, which includes being hit or slapped on the face, head or ears, or, being beaten up which is being hit over and over as hard as one could.

The Royal Government’s commitments at the ministerial conference, among others, include upscaling parenting programs in schools across the country, promoting positive parenting practices and safeguarding child wellbeing and upscale wellbeing and anti-bullying programs in all schools nationwide by 2026 to foster safe and supportive environments for children.

Chief Program Officer with the National Commission for Women and Children Secretariat, Reena Thapa said the National Health Survey findings underscore the pressing need for comprehensive and coordinated efforts to safeguard the rights and well-being of children.

“To effectively address the complex issues surrounding child protection, it is imperative that we adopt a multi-sectoral approach. The NCWC emphasizes that in all actions taken, the best interests of the child must remain paramount,” Reena Thapa said. “It is crucial that our interventions do not inadvertently cause further harm or increase the risks faced by children. We call on Government agencies, communities, families, the private sector, civil society, and the children and youth themselves to join us, recognizing that the protection of children is not only a legal obligation but a moral imperative.”

UNICEF Bhutan's Deputy Representative Fawzia Hoodbhoy commended the Royal Government’s commitment to ending all forms of violence against children. “The widespread use of violence to discipline children and acceptance of such practices by parents and caregivers is a huge concern that needs urgent attention,” Fawzia Hoodbhoy said. “UNICEF commits to supporting the Royal Government in implementing the pledges and ensuring every child in Bhutan grows up in a safe environment.”

Studies show that evidence-based parenting programmes improve caregiving, reduce family violence and maltreatment, and enhance the mental health of children and parents. To ensure every child grows up feeling safe and loved, the NCWC and UNICEF calls on partners and stakeholders to provide:

● Universal access to parenting support programmes that promote nurturing care.

● Universal provision of safe and enabling school environments.

● Targeted response and support services for all children who need them.

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For more information, please contact:

NCWC Secretariat: Reena Thapa, Chief Programme Officer, [email protected]

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Note to editors:

Legislations that prohibit violent disciplining

Child Care and Protection Act

Harsh or degrading correction or punishment

214. A person shall be liable for the offence of harsh and degrading correction or punishment, if the person subjects a child to harsh or degrading correction or punishment measures at home, in schools or in any other institutions. Any corrective measure shall be culturally appropriate and in accordance with rules framed for discipline of children. The offence of harsh and degrading correction or punishment shall be a violation.

Child battery

215. A person shall be guilty of the offence of battering a child if a person purposely uses physical force or causes the child to be subjected to a physical force. The offence of battering a child shall be a petty misdemeanor or a misdemeanor if aggravated circumstances are present.

Use of force for care, discipline, or safety of another

109. A defendant shall have the defence of justification, if the defendant uses force on an incompetent or incapable person and the defendant is the parent or guardian or other person responsible for the general care and supervision of such person and the force:

(a) Is used with the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the welfare of the incompetent or incapable person, including the prevention of serious misconduct;

(b) Used is not designed to cause or known to create a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily injury; and

(c) Used is no greater than that which is necessary.

The Constitution of Bhutan provides that the State shall endeavour to take appropriate measures to ensure that children are protected against all forms of discrimination and exploitation including trafficking, prostitution, abuse, violence, degrading treatment and economic exploitation.   

Definitions

Physical punishment: Shaking, hitting or slapping a child on the hand/arm/leg, hitting on the bottom or elsewhere on the body with a hard object, spanking or hitting on the bottom with a bare hand, hitting or slapping on the face, head or ears, and hitting or beating hard and repeatedly.

Severe physical punishment: Hitting or slapping the child on the face, head or ears, and hitting or beating a child hard and repeatedly.

Psychological aggression: Shouting, yelling or screaming at a child, as well as calling a child offensive names such as “dumb” or “lazy.”

The Concluding Observations for Bhutan issued by the Committee on the Rights of the Child following the State Dialogue in May 2024 also stated that the Committee is deeply concerned about:

(a) The prevalence of violence against children, underreporting and insufficient investigation of such cases, and a culture of silence and stigma that discourages reporting.

(b) Insufficient services and inter-institutional coordination among relevant sectors for supporting child victims of violence.

The Committee reported that it “remains deeply concerned that corporal punishment is legally and socially acceptable in the State party.”

Recalling its general comment No. 8 (2006) on the right of the child to protection from corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment, the Committee recommends the Government to explicitly prohibit, as a matter of priority, corporal punishment by law in the home, alternative care, day care, schools, monastic schools, nunneries, penal institutions and all other settings, including by repealing all provisions allowing the use of corporal punishment and reviewing the Child Care and Protection Act, Articles 109 to 112 of the Penal Code, the Child Adoption Act, the Domestic Violence Prevention Act and other relevant legislation.