RENEW and UNICEF open 15th Community Service Center in Haa

Haa, March 8, 2026: Coinciding with International Women's Day celebrations, Her Majesty The Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck, the Royal Patron of RENEW, graced the inaugural of Bhutan’s 15th RENEW Community Service Center (CSC) in Haa today, strengthening Bhutan’s commitment to preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV).

Also known as Women and Girls’ Safe Space, the RENEW CSC plays a critical role in preventing and responding to gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against children (VAC) cases through coordinated, survivor-centered approaches. These centres ensure access to safe, confidential, and professional support services at the dzongkhag level and help build resilient and protective communities.

Located near Haa town by the Traditional Medicine Hospital, the RENEW Community Service Center will cater support services to women, children, and community members in difficult circumstances.

UNICEF in partnership with RENEW and with the support of district administrations has established RENEW Community Service Centres (CSCs) across 15 districts to date. Since 2022, the growing presence of RENEW CSCs across the country has significantly enhanced access to services by bringing safe, confidential, and professional support closer to communities.

RENEW’s Executive Director, Tshering Dolkar said that the inauguration, coinciding with International Women's Day, holds special significance. “The expansion to Haa Dzongkhag reaffirms our shared commitment to ensuring that no survivor is left without support,” the Executive Director said.

Establishing these Centres is part of the broader strategy to collaborate and involve community members, district authorities, and local leaders in addressing public health priorities and social issues. It ensures consistency of awareness and sensitization programs in the remote communities in close collaboration with the Multi-Sectoral Task Force and the Community Based Support Service network in the districts.

Over the years, the consistent presence of RENEW CSCs has demonstrated the importance of localized safe spaces in increasing awareness, building trust, and encouraging help seeking behaviour. The 15 centres have played a critical role in responding to cases, facilitating access to other support services, conducting awareness and community outreach programs, contributing to stronger service delivery mechanisms at the dzongkhag level.

UNICEF Representative Rushnan Murtaza said, UNICEF is proud to partner with RENEW and commits to achieving nationwide coverage of Women and Girls Safe Spaces by the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan.

“While Bhutan has made significant progress, many women and girls continue to face social, cultural, and economic barriers that limit their potential. Today, we move one step closer to ensuring that every district in Bhutan has a safe and accessible space for survivors of violence,” the Representative said.

Since 2022, the centers have reached more than 100,000 women, children and community members with various services. These services include supporting survivors with counselling, referral, medical and legal support, which are followed by livelihood skilling programmes to support their employability and business projects. These centres also conduct outreach services to create awareness on the impacts of all forms of violence against women and children.

Building on this progress, two additional RENEW Community Service Centres (CSCs) are being established in Wangdue Phodrang, and Trongsa to be opened this year. By the end of the 13th Five Year Plan, RENEW and UNICEF will achieve nationwide coverage of the CSSs.

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