RENEW and UNICEF open three more Safe Spaces for Women and Girls in Bhutan

MONGAR: Expanding access to critical protection services for survivors of violence, RENEW and UNICEF inaugurated the Women and  Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) in Mongar and Pema Gatshel today. Samdrup Jongkhar will inaugurate their Centre this week.

With the inauguration of three centres this week,14 dzongkhags in Bhutan would have established safe spaces to provide critical services to women and children affected by gender-based violence (GBV). Mongar’s WGSS is located behind Zongkhar Park near the youth centre.

The National Health Survey (NHS) 2023 found that two in every five women in Bhutan have experienced some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime. Women aged 20–24, those with lower secondary education, working women, and those from rural areas are particularly vulnerable.

The survey also found that over 82 per cent of children aged 1–14 reported being disciplined using violent methods in the past month, and nearly 30 per cent of caregivers believe physical punishment is necessary. Despite the scale of the issue, nearly three-quarters of female survivors never seek help, due to stigma, lack of services, and weak multi-sectoral coordination.

To address these challenges, RENEW and UNICEF partnered to establish the Women and children Safe Space also known as RENEW Community Centres. These Centres aim to provide a physically and emotionally safe environment where survivors can access professional psychosocial support, legal aid, and economic empowerment services. The Centres also serve as entry points to access information, protection services and livelihood training as well as community engagement to prevent violence against women and children.

Since the inception of community service centers in 2021, the Centres have reached over 100,000 people with awareness programs related to Gender Based Violence (GBV), Domestic Violence (DV) & Violence Against Children (VAC), and community ownership to address the issues.

According to NHS 2023, the acceptance of wife-beating among women aged 15–64 varies across Dzongkhags. In Samdrup Jongkhar, 42.5 per cent (rural) and 51.8 per cent (Thromde) of women agreed that a man has a good reason to hit his wife, showing that such beliefs persist in both urban and rural settings. In Pemagatshel, 52.9 per cent of women held similar views- the highest among the three districts - indicating strong traditional norms and the need for intensified awareness on gender equality and non-violence. Conversely, Mongar recorded a lower acceptance rate of 29.4 per cent, suggesting relatively progressive attitudes though one-third still justify violence. Overall, the findings highlight the continued need for community-based sensitization and behavior change programs to challenge harmful gender norms and promote respectful, non-violent relationships.)

Executive Director of RENEW, Tshering Dolkar, said that at  RENEW, we firmly believe that every woman, every child, and every individual deserves to live with dignity,  in safety, with support, and free from violence and neglect.

“Over the years, our Community Service Centres have evolved into vital lifelines providing safe spaces where survivors of gender-based violence receive counselling, care, and compassion; where livelihoods are restored; and where communities are empowered to believe in a brighter, more hopeful future.

With the establishment of three additional Community Service Centres across fourteen dzongkhags, RENEW now operates a total of 14 centres, with five more in the pipeline. This expansion is not merely about increasing numbers or extending our geographic reach but it represents our deepened commitment to bringing essential services closer to the people, strengthening prevention, enhancing responsiveness, and nurturing resilience and hope in every community we serve.”

UNICEF Bhutan’s Deputy Representative Fawzia Hoodbhoy said every woman and child deserves to live free from violence. “While Bhutan has made incredible progress, women and girls still face social, cultural and economic barriers that limit their potential. We are confident that these Centres will serve as sanctuaries for women and girls to access lifesaving services that will help them heal and rebuild their lives. UNICEF remains committed to expanding access to safe spaces and strengthening systems that protect the most vulnerable.”

Building on the achievements to date, RENEW together with partners envisions further scaling up the Community Service at all levels across 20 Dzongkhags, ensuring no one is left behind. Priority areas  include:

1. Expanding Services: Introducing new programs, such as digital literacy and climate-resilient livelihood training.

2. Strengthening Community Engagement: Enhancing outreach efforts to engage men and boys as allies in preventing GBV and promoting gender equality.

3. Advocacy for Policy Support: Collaborating with NCWC, The Pema, CSOs and other stakeholders to advocate for policies for reinforcement of implementation of policies and acts related to women and children.

The RENEW Community Centres initiative has facilitated stronger partnerships with  Administrations, local governments, and community networks, encouraging shared responsibility and local ownership of the Centres and their services. This collaborative model not only enhances service delivery today but also lays the foundation for sustained community-driven protection systems that will continue to serve vulnerable populations well into the future.

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