Staff Reporter

Members states to the Convention on the Rights of the Child elected a Bhutanese, Dr Rinchen Chophel as a member of the United Nations’ Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) for the term 2021-2025 in the election held at UN headquarters in New York on November 24.

Other members elected to the committee were independent experts nominated by the Governments of Bulgaria, Japan, Belgium, Uruguay, Ethiopia, Georgia, South Africa, and Chad.

The CRC is a body of 18 Independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its two Optional Protocols to the Convention, on the involvement of children in armed conflict; and on sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

“The Government Bhutan had nominated Dr Rinchen Chophel to contest the CRC election given his outstanding commitment and distinguished service in promoting and protecting the rights of the children(besides women and gender), spanning close to 30 years, both in Bhutan and SAARC region,” a press release from the foreign ministry stated.

Dr Rinchen Chophel is currently working as the Director General of the South Asia Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) regional secretariat based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

He has also served as the Executive Director of the National Commission for Women and Children( NCWC).

“As a State Party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Royal Government has always attached the highest priority to the interests and well being of children. Bhutan is committed to fostering a safer environment for children to thrive and fulfil their dreams, and to protect them from neglect, abuse, and ill-health,” the release stated.