Seventh session of the Second Parliament
Women, Children and Youth Committee
Report on implementation of resolution of the National
Assembly passed during the sixth session of the second
Parliament
Date: 2nd June, 2016
Committee Members:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Hon. Karma Dorji (Chairperson)
Hon. Rinzin Jamtsho (Vice Chairperson)
Hon. Kezang Wangmo (Member)
Hon. Novin Darlami (Member)
Hon. Jigme Wangchuk (Member)
Hon. Dechen Zangmo (Member)
Hon. Tshewang Jurmi (Member)
Women, Children and Youth Committee Report to the 7th session of the 2nd Parliament
Report by Women, Children and Youth Committee on implementation of resolution of the
National Assembly passed during the sixth session
Methodology:
As per the directions of the National Assembly, Women, Children and Youth Committee
(WCYC) met nine times to discuss on the resolutions passed by the House in the sixth session. It
was decided to follow up with all the relevant stake holders and ask for status reports of their
implementation of the resolution. Hence, the committee wrote to the Cabinet Secretariat,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health respectively in March,
2016 asking them to submit a status report each for the resolutions number one to five as listed
below:
1. Cabinet must adopt National Youth Action Plan and strategic alcohol reduction
framework and national policy at the earliest possible to minimize the usage of alcohol
in the country.
2. Cabinet should look into the earliest possibility of adopting maternity leave which was
reviewed and recommended by the RCSC.
3. To provide rights to the disabled people, Foreign Ministry should carry out thorough
consultations with the ministries, agencies, civil society organizations and Women,
Children and Youth Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities. To this effect, the committee should report in the Seventh Session of the
Parliament.
4. Three sections of the Fourth and the Fifth Session resolutions are under implementation
process. Works as per these resolutions should be executed by the concerned ministries
and agencies at the earliest possible and submit the report thereof to the committee to be
tabled in the Seventh Session.
5. The committee responsible for reviewing and harmonizing laws should submit a status
report on the review to harmonize and amend the Marriage Act, Penal Code of Bhutan,
sections of the Child Care and Protection Act and then submit the status report to the
Committee.
Resolution 1: Cabinet must adopt National Youth Action Plan and strategic alcohol reduction
framework and national policy at the earliest possible to minimize the usage of alcohol in the
country.
Findings/implementation status:
1.1 During the fourth session of the second Parliament, the ministry of education was directed by
the House to review the Youth Policy 2011 in consultation with ministry of labor and human
resources and other concerned stakeholders.
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Women, Children and Youth Committee Report to the 7th session of the 2nd Parliament
As a result, the department of youth and sports under the ministry of education in
consultation with multiple stake holders has drafted a National Youth Action Plan which was
submitted to the education minister who in turn submitted the draft to the Cabinet.
1.2 In all of the Dzongkhags visited by the WCYC in 2014, alcoholism was noted a major
concern as health and social problems related to alcohol were reported to increase alarmingly
year by year. Hence during the fourth session of the second Parliament, the Committee
submitted that there is a need for an Alcohol Control Act. However, since there was a draft
Policy and Strategic Framework to reduce harmful use of Alcohol 2013-2018 drafted by
Ministry of Health, the committee recommended the Government to endorse the draft Policy
at the earliest possible.
The National Policy and Strategic Framework to reduce harmful use of Alcohol, 2013-2018
has been approved by the Lhengye Zhungtshog on 2nd December 2015 during its 90th
meeting.
Resolution 2: Cabinet should look into the earliest possibility of adopting maternity leave which
was reviewed and recommended by the RCSC.
Findings/Implementation status
It was observed by the Committee and reported in the fourth session of the second Parliament
that exclusive breast feeding of babies for six months was very low as working mothers had to
resume their normal duty after three months of maternity leave and rural mothers had to go to
work in the fields. For that, the WCYC of the National Assembly, in consultation with ministry
of health, NCWC, RCSC and other relevant stakeholders was directed by the House to take the
lead in reviewing the existing regulations pertaining to maternity leave to look into extension of
maternity leave up to six months. Therefore, Cabinet has approved the proposal to increase
maternity leave from three months to six months on 11th December, 2015 during the 92nd
Lhengye Zhungtshog.
Considering the urgency of exclusive breast feeding of babies for six months, it was important to
consider this privilege being extended to working mothers outside the scope of civil service. In
line with this directive of the House, the committee continued holding rigorous consultations
with the relevant stakeholders. It was during these consultations with stakeholders, the
committee encouraged the stakeholders to take up the matter with the Government at the earliest
possible time. Accordingly, related agencies took up the matter and as a result, the Government
directed ministry of labor and human resources take lead into considering maternity leave for
non civil service working mothers.
Resolution 3: To provide rights to the disabled people, foreign ministry should carry out
thorough consultations with the ministries, agencies, civil society organizations and Women,
Children and Youth Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. To
this effect, the committee should report in the Seventh Session of the Parliament.
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Women, Children and Youth Committee Report to the 7th session of the 2nd Parliament
Findings/implementation status
WCYC observed that persons with disabilities in institutions and schools are deprived of basic
disable friendly health facilities such as those of physiotherapy technician, eye technician and
frequent general routine health checkups and trained teachers.
Institutions like Draktso and MIK as well as Khaling LSS and Khaling HSS did not have friendly
environment and infrastructure for persons with disabilities. The committee upon consultation
with the relevant stakeholders felt an urgent need for an Act for persons with disabilities.
Therefore, the committee during the fourth session of the second Parliament proposed for an Act
and to ratify the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
However, during the sixth session the house directed the ministry of foreign affairs to carry out
thorough consultations with relevant stakeholders to ratify the UNCRPD.
The committee summoned officials from ministry of foreign affairs to update on the status of the
convention on 20th May 2016 during which, the committee found out that no such consultations
were held as of date. However, the ministry has informed the committee that the foreign ministry
was directed by Lhengye Zhungtshog to identify a lead agency or the establishment of a HighLevel Inter Agency Task Force to conduct a comprehensive study for ratification of convention.
Resolution 4: Three sections of the Fourth and the Fifth Session resolutions are under
implementation process. Works as per these resolutions should be executed by the concerned
ministries and agencies at the earliest possible and submit the report thereof to the committee to
be tabled in the Seventh Session.
Findings/implementation status
4.1 As per WCYC report submitted in the fourth session of the second Parliament, teenage
pregnancy was another concern highlighted, as there were at least two to three teenagers
delivering in a year in the Dzongkhags visited. It was observed that although most of the
pregnancy was consensual and teenagers were married, some were reportedly caused by
abuse and rape. The health workers do not choose to report teenage pregnancy cases to the
police fearing that the law enforcing agency would take legal action if reported. As a result
teenage pregnant girls would not come to hospitals for ANC or delivery in future. It would
ultimately lead to drop in institutional delivery causing risk to both the young mother and
child. It was also reported that there is no clear guideline to follow in such situation.
Therefore, ministry of health was directed to develop guidelines on reporting teenage
pregnancies while at the same time considering adequate protection of health workers while
providing services.
Subsequently, the policy and planning division under ministry of health has drafted and
endorsed a mechanism to report teenage pregnancies in Bhutan (attached) and they await the
directives of the House.
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4.2 As recommended by WCYC in the fourth session of the second Parliament, ministry of
health proposed the Ministry of Finance on making the Village Health Workers (VHWs) a
salaried post. It was observed that VHWs play a very important role in the community and
are the main link between the service providers and the beneficiaries. They have multiple
responsibilities in addition to their own work and are not provided with any salary or
incentives. Some VHWs spend more than two weeks a month fulfilling their role. Therefore,
it was recommended that they are paid salary. As a result, on 26th January 2016, The Ministry
of Health (MoH) has submitted the incentive package of Village Health Workers to Ministry
of Finance (MoF) for their comments and endorsement. Subsequently, MoF endorsed the
following benefits on 30th May, 2016 as proposed:
a. DSA during in-country training and official travel is revised to Nu. 500 per day
b. Extension kits-carry bag once in every 3yearand boots/shoes once in a year within value
of Nu. 1000/c. Annual award for best VHW in Dzongkhags-Nu.5000 per annum.
4.3 Ministry of health was directed to monitor the quality of locally developed play materials or
provide imported play materials, in promoting Care for Child Development (C4CD) and
early stimulation for child development. This directive was given to solve concerns raised
about the safety and quality of locally made play materials in the children’s corner in BHUs
in promoting C4CD and early stimulation for child development.
Consequently, the MoH will distribute toys to health centers to facilitate child development
with support from UNICEF. MoH has recently awarded the tender for supply of toys which
they expect to receive and distribute within this financial year.
4.4 Women in rural areas are reported as being reluctant to use health facilities due to the
absence of female health workers. For that, it was resolved that at least one female health
worker should be posted in the BHUs and adequate number of female health workers in
hospitals. Accordingly, the Health Ministry will work with Khesar Gyalpo University of
Medical Services of Bhutan to increase the intake of female candidates in Health Assistant
Courses and further deploy one female health worker in BHU II once the transfer exercise
2017 is done.
4.5 It was reported in the fourth session by WCYC that Institutional delivery although increasing
is still a concern. There are still some women who do not come to avail health facilities
mainly due to the distance, socio cultural perceptions and lack of patient diet facilities in
Grade II BHUs.
For that, committee recommended The Ministry of Health to look into the possibilities of
providing patient diet and other essential items such as sanitary pads, napkins for the
newborn in the Grade II BHUs to encourage and increase institutional delivery. The Ministry
of Health in this regard has done a research and will further explore avenues for provision of
patient’s diet at the BHU II.
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Resolution 5:The committee responsible for reviewing and harmonizing laws should submit a
status report on the review to harmonize and amend the Marriage Act, Penal Code of Bhutan,
sections of the Child Care and Protection Act and then submit the status report to the
Committee.
Findings/implementation status
To review on harmonization and amendment of three Acts mentioned, the Committee wrote
twice to the National Law Review Task Force (committee assigned by the Cabinet as per
resolution of the House) and found that no review on the mentioned Acts has been carried out as
of now. However, WCYC reviewed the Acts and also consulted the relevant stakeholders such as
National Commission of Women and Children (NCWC), Judiciary, RENEW and the Legal
Division of the National Assembly Secretariat. Upon the directive of the Hon’ble Speaker dated
15th February 2016, the committee reviewed the Marriage Act and Child Care and Protection
Act. Further, the committee discussed the above matter in two days stakeholders meeting where
more than thirty five representatives from 18 organizations participated. The recommendations
were again compiled by the committee and sent to the participants to add on their views and
comments. Committee felt the need for further public consultations and decided that region
based public consultation would be done after the 7th session and to be tabled for amendment in
the 8th session. The Committee will also assist Legislative Committee in reviewing and
harmonizing the CCPA and Penal Code of Bhutan which is scheduled to be reported in the 8th
session of the second Parliament.
Recommendations
1. The committee recommends the Cabinet to endorse and implement the National Youth
Action Plan before the 8th session of the second Parliament.
2. The Ministry of Health in consultation with relevant agencies should report the
implementation status of The National Policy and Strategic Framework to reduce harmful
use of Alcohol, 2013-2018 in the 8th session of the second Parliament.
3. As proposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Committee endorses and
recommends the House for the Formation of the High-Level Inter Agency Task Force at
the earliest possible with full engagement from all the relevant stake holders to ratify
UNCRPD.
4. Ministry of Labor and Human Resources (MoLHR) should continue to work on
increasing maternity Leave/supplements/incentives for working mothers outside the
scope of civil service and report to the House in the 8th session of the second Parliament.
5. Women, Children and Youth Committee recommend the House to provide direction on
the endorsement of the Teenage Pregnancy Reporting Mechanism.
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