Regional Expert Roundtable on Prevention of Violence in Schools in South
Asia, 25-27 April 2016, Colombo
By:
Sherab Dorji- Child Care and Protection Officer, DratshangLhentshog, Thimphu, Bhutan
Singye Namgyel: CEO, Thuksey Research and Consultancy, Thimphu, Bhutan
SAARC MEMBER STATES
Political Map: 20 Districts (Dzongkhags)
Bhutan- Country Profile- 2015
POPULATION
Population by Sex
Male 393,324
Female 363,718
Both Sex 757,042
Population by Age Group 2015
0 – 14 229,786
15 – 64 488,600
65+ 38,656
All ages 757,042
Country Profile: Education- 2015
School Education Govt Private Total
Primary Schools 318 14 332
Lower Sec Schools 77 1 78
Middle Sec Schools 69 2 71
Higher Sec Schools 40 18 58
Sub- Total (B) 504 35 539
Extended Classrooms 96 96
Central Schools 24 24
Education: Students by School Levels- 2015 Government Private Govt + Private
Schools-Ages
Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total
Primary6-13
21623 21277 43120 1344 1250 2594 22967 22747 45714
Lower SS14-15
19119 19348 38467 18 8 26 19137 19356 38493
Middle SS16-17
22135 22471 44606 649 594 1243 22784 23065 45849
Higher SS18-19
15029 15717 30746 3944 4344 8288 18973 20061 39034
Extended Cl Room
1210 1102 2312 1210 1102 2312
Sub-tot 79116 80135 159251 5955 6196 12151 85071 86331 171402
Central Schools
7456 7542 14998 7456 7542 14998
Student Morning Assembly- Prayers-Culture
Taktshang-Tiger’s Nest: Tourist Attraction
TEAM BHUTAN
SCHOOLS- VIOLENCE PREVENTION OR PROMOTION: PERSPECTIVES FROM
BHUTANESE CONTEXT
OPINION-QUALITATIVE REPORT
Legal Instruments: Violence Prevention
1) The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan (2008), the State’s duty “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” (Clause 18, p. 36)
Legal Instruments: Violence prevention
Legislations Violence Prevention and Child
Protection
1) Domestic Violence Prevention Act, 2013 All forms of domestic violence
2) National Policy and Strategic
Framework to Reduce Harmful Use of
Alcohol, 2013–2018
Alcohol abuse and how it contributes
to domestic violence, family
separation and risk behaviours among
children
3) Child Adoption Act of Bhutan, 2012 Alternative care
4) National Youth Policy, 2012 Interventions for vulnerable youth
5) Penal Code of Bhutan, 2004 and
its Amendment in 2011
Offences against children
6) Child Care and Protection Act of Bhutan,
2011
All child protection concerns
7) Prisons Act of Bhutan, 2009Retention of children in conflict with
the Law
Source: National Commission for Women and Children [NCWC] (2015)
Legal Instruments : Violence prevention
Legislations Violence Prevention and Child
Protection
8) Immigration Act of the Kingdom of
Bhutan, 2007
Trafficking
9) Civil and Criminal Procedures Code,
2001
All procedures and processes relating to
the courts and the police
10) Marriage Act of Bhutan, 1980 and its
Amendment in 1996
Child marriage, maintenance and custody
11) Inheritance Act of Bhutan, 1980 Protecting the inheritance rights of
children
12) Labour and Employment Act, 2007 All forms of labour and related violence
Source: National Commission for Women and Children [NCWC] (2015)
Rules and Regulations
• Regulations on the Acceptable Forms of Child Labour
• Child Care and Protection Rules and Regulations-2015
• Child Adoption Rules and Regulations-2015
• Domestic Violence Prevention Rules and regulations-2015
• National Plan of Action on Child Protection
Institutions-Agencies and Violence Prevention Institutions and Agencies Related mandates to Violence Prevention
The RENEW (Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women, 2004
Dedicates to empowerment of women and girls in Bhutan, especially the victims and survivors of domestic violence
The Bhutan Nun’s Foundation (BNF), 2009
Empowering and educating Bhutanese girls and women, improving the living condition and economic vitality of rural villages.
The Child Care and Protection Office under the DratshangLhentshog (Central Monastic), 2010
Ensure Prevention of Violence and Care and Protection of Monk students in the country
Save the Children-Bhutan, 1982 Focuses on Early Childhood Care and Education, Basic Education, Adolescent & Youth Development and Child Protection
Early Childhood Care and Development Program, 2008-2013
Provides professional and technical support for early
learning opportunities, help enhance knowledge and
skills on parenting and caregivers.
Source: Youth Development Fund [YDF] (2014)
Institutions-Agencies and Violence Prevention
Institutions-Agencies Related mandates to Violence Prevention
Special Education Needs Program, 2008-2013
Special Education programme for early detection and intervention; Expansion of Special Education Services; Teaching-learning support for Special Education Services
The National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC),2004
Lead agency for the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Protects and promote the rights of Women and Children.
Women and Child Protection Division (WCPD), Royal Bhutan Police, 2005
Entrusted with the sole responsibilities of attending to the needs of women and children; To provide a safe and conductive environment for women and children.
The Ability Bhutan Society, 2011
Provides technical supports in the early intervention for children with disabilities; Creates awareness on the issues of disabilities; Formation of support group for parents and provide them education.
Source: Youth Development Fund [YDF] (2014)
Institutions-Agencies and Violence Prevention Institutions and Agencies
and establishmentRelated mandates to Violence Prevention
One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC), Ministry of Health, 2008-2013
Clinical evaluations and writing reports on all forms of violence against children; Medico-legal investigations of unnatural and violence deaths (drugs, murder, accidents, etc.); Handling biological samples for Disputed paternity cases; Screening for drugs of abuse; and Training of health professionals.
UNICEF- Bhutan, 1974 Technical and financial support for Health, Nutrition, Water and Sanitation; Quality Education for All; andChild Protection and Youth.
The Bhutan Youth Development Fund (YDF),1999
Special focus on disadvantaged youth; Provides financial support for youth development activities like leadership skills, drug rehabilitation, special education, basic skills and vocational training, advocacy research and education.
Source: Youth Development Fund [YDF] (2014)
A typical Bhutanese Village
Some hard realities: Study reports
Physical Violence: Slapping, punching, ear pulling or twisting, pinching, kicking, hair pulling, the rapping of knuckles on the forehead and hitting a child’s back, head or bottom with hands, belts, sticks. Child monks are beaten by a teycha (whip)
Emotional violence: Scolding, screaming, humiliation, intimidation, threats, partiality, witnessing domestic violence, ‘lack of love’, gossiping, teasing and ‘down looking’.
Sexual violence: Sexual harassment, unwanted sexual acts, rape, commercial sexual exploitation.
(NCWC, 2015)
Causes of Violence: Study reports
School setting:
• Simple child, Unpunctual child, Beautiful girl, Sexual desire, Teacher’s ego, Pornography, Naughty children, Jealousy, Children wanting money, Children who do not do well in school,
General setting:
• Alcohol, Poverty, Stressed parents, Misunderstandings, Drugs, Divorce, Adults short temper, Step-parent.
(NCWC, 2015)
Select Anecdotes: Students with Disability • I believe these students with disabilities are more susceptible to
physical abuse and corporal punishment because they often behave in ways that typically warrant punishment from teachers, i.e. can’t focus in class, talk out, fight, don’t study and perform poorly in class work and exams. Even though teachers and staff are aware of the disability, and in relation to abuse and corporal punishment, there is no exemption for these students (Teacher participant).
• My six year old grandson was in the queue to get his lunch. A senior boy began to tease him for no reason. I was watching him, hoping to stop. But he continuously bullied my little boy and finally he beat him. My grandson cried. I charged the culprit. A teacher intervened, then only I stopped, but gave him warning not to repeat such violence (Parent).
(Youth Development Fund, 2014)
Anecdotes: Schools and monastery- Physical Violence
• In schools, boys and girls experience ‘light’ to ‘severe’ beatings by their teachers and principals or by matrons and wardens in boarding school hostels. Fighting between groups of boys, and bullying of younger children are also present, although experienced far less frequently than beatings by adults.
• In monasteries, child monks are regularly beaten by the kudrung (discipline master) or other adult monks for committing ‘offences’, such as being late to prayers.
(NCWC, 2015)
Anecdotes: Schools and monasteries- Emotional Violence
• In schools, girls and boys are frequently scolded, threatened or publically shamed by their teachers, principals, wardens and matrons. Students experience differentiation by teachers according to academic ability, family wealth, association with important people or, in the case of girls, beauty. Some teachers differentiate between students according to caste.
• Child monks and nuns are scolded, threatened and humiliated by their teachers and kudrungs for committing offences. Many child monks and nuns also miss their families profoundly and are distressed when they cannot visit their home town or village regularly.
(NCWC, 2015)
Bhutanese and British Royals: Maiden visit to Bhutan, April 14-16, 2016
System Initiatives: Violence Prevention Enablers
Systems and Procedures Violence Prevention: School/grassroots
Gross National Happiness (GNH): happiness and well-being of all
GNH Commission (Country), GNH Committee (District), GNH Club (School),
Child Friendly Schools (CFS), Nationwide system in place
Principles and practices at school level; Aspects of CFS to be implemented
Green School Concept and Practice
Eight aspects of Greenery: Academic, Spiritual, Aesthetic, Social, Natural/ Environmental, Moral, Intellectual, Cultural.
Care Givers in Boarding schools: Ladies for girls, men for boys
Care and protect young students in boarding schools. SOP for reporting and monitoring in place. Roles of nursing for young students.
Buddy System in many schools, Senior- junior student adoption
Senior students caring younger ones: brothers and sisters relationship,
Adoption: One-Teacher One Student
Some schools initiated this system of adoption to care young and vulnerable students.
Counseling programmes in secondary schools
Personal, academic, career, relation
System Initiatives: Violence Prevention Enablers
Systems and Procedures Violence Prevention: School/grassroots
Toll free call 113: Royal Bhutan Police
Call for assistance and/or report related to crime or violence,
Toll free call 112: Medical Emergency
Call for medical assistance, ambulance,
Toll free call 1600: Bhutan Telecom
Call for any contact nos for assistance and reference across the country
Cell no of Police Chief and relevant Police Officers
Any one can call during emergencies and crisis
Cell no grievance office at the PM’s Office
Anyone can call during emergencies and crisis
Youth Police Partnership Program (YPPP)
The YPPP engages students and out of school youths to prevent violence, crimes and anti-social activities
Children Parliament (2015) Children and Youths take ownership to help address national issues concerning them. MPs represented by Democracy Clubs of Schools/ Institutes
Children's Parliament of Bhutan
Key Messages to Policy Makers and Line Agencies: Addressing Grey Areas
• Need to implement laws and associated rules and procedures in true spirit,
• Multi-sectoral approach to preventing violence in schools and childhood,
• Weed out the complacent attitude of “it is none of my business”,
• Fix responsibilities and accountability with clear monitoring and reporting mechanism (SOP),
• Provide legal tooth (and protection) to general public to help prevent violence.
Dochula Pass: 108 Stupas of Victory
Schools and Children: Free of Violence
Fly freely as a free bird Fly in Bhutan’s Valleys
WELCOME TO BHUTAN
Thank you!!!
