The National Women and Children Commission (NCWC) plans to set up a women and child welfare committee at the central level and 20 dzongkhag women and child welfare committees, as well as in Thromdes to ensure implementation of legislation and acts related to women and children.

NCWC’s director Kunzang Lhamo reported this during the annual midterm review on February 26 in Thimphu.

NCWC has submitted the proposal to the cabinet and expects to set up 10 women and child welfare committees in as many dzongkhags by the end of this year. It would require the appointment of 20 protection officers across the country.

The commission is in the process of developing a national plan of Action for Child Wellbeing and Protection. Kunzang Lhamo said there were more policies on protection aspects. “There is not much done on the overall wellbeing of children.”

Kunzang Lhamo reported that of the total 42 success indicators, 13 were achieved, 29 were on track and none at risk.

She said that there are around nine agencies that have started implementing standard internal framework to address gender issues at the workplace. It included establishments of crèches at workplaces.

To ensure a systematic and evidence-based approach to provide effective and appropriate services to women and children in need of care and protection, NCWC has developed a Central Management and Information System (CMIS) to house disaggregated data. The system was launched in September last year.

The end user training on CMIS was held in two phase in Phuentsholing and Thimphu last year.  The programme is reported as one of the success indicators.

Kunzang Lhamo said the CMIS would act as a central record system for all information related protection issues of women and children in the country. “It also requires coordination with stakeholders including government and NGOs.”

The Gender Equality Policy has been drafted and the NCWC will conduct stakeholder workshop on the draft before submitting it to the Gross National Happiness Commission for approval.

NCWC has achieved the target of translating media guidelines and guideline for Accreditation and Management of Shelter Home for women and children in difficult circumstances.

Kunzang Lhamo reported that the commission achieved all targets on the implementation of National Integrity and Anti-Corruption Strategy. NCWC spent more than 30 percent of the Nu 22.648 million budget.

Nima