Stamping out gender-based violence

Staff Reporter

To standardize case management procedures for Gender-Based Violence (GBV) cases, UNICEF in Bhutan this week supported the National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC) and RENEW to develop guidelines on case management of GBV and a training package based on the guidelines.

Using the training package, 16 RENEW CBSS volunteers from Haa, Paro, and Thimphu dzongkhags attended training in Paro from August 24-27 this week to provide case management services to survivors of GBV including during emergencies in line with the guidelines and the Standard Operating Procedures on GBV.

UNICEF Bhutan said a similar training by NCWC is underway for Dzongkhag Protection Officers and case managers from Nazhoen Lamoten with 14 case managers trained to date.

It said the training is expected to result in survivors of GBV receiving quality care and support that addresses the harmful consequences of violence to help them heal and recover.

Meanwhile, to support the learning and development of children with disabilities, UNICEF this week handed over 38 tablets to children of Ability Bhutan Society, which supports children with moderate to severe forms of disabilities through their home-based as well as center-based programme.

A press release from UNICEF office in Bhutan stated that they are developing an Early Childhood Interventions (ECI) package to support social workers and caregivers, including through the use of technology.

“The tablets would support parents and caregivers to explore useful disability-related applications that could be downloaded for stimulating, engaging and better learning of children with disabilities,” UNICEF sources said.

Meanwhile, to enhance the skills of teachers in monastic schools and nunneries in identifying and referring child protection issues to service providers, the Dratshang Lhentshog’s Child Care and Protection Office with support from UNICEF has trained 37 teachers from monastic institutions in Trongsa and Bumthang in Paro from August 23-25 this month.

Sources said the skills and knowledge provided during the training will help teachers identify signs and symptoms of violence, abuse, and neglect against children and provide children in distress with appropriate case management services.

To date, 114 teachers from 61 monastic institutions and six nunneries have been trained and by the end of this year, at least one teacher from all monastic schools and nunneries in Bhutan is expected to be equipped with child protection skills and knowledge