Bhutan’s first anti-human trafficking project

Jul 31, 2014

With aims to strengthen the Government and Civil Society responses to counter trafficking in persons in the country, a three year project, titled as ‘Enhance Government and Civil Society Responses to Counter Trafficking in Persons in Bhutan’ was launched in the capital.

Marking the first ever UN World Day against Trafficking in Persons yesterday, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), together with the National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC), the Government of Bhutan initiated the project.

The launch of this project also brought about the setting up of the UNODC’s first project office in Bhutan.

According to the press release from UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Thimphu, with this project, the government commits to take preventive action to contain the trafficking in persons at an early stage.

Under this project, the UNODC will provide technical assistance to the government in strengthening the legal and policy framework (particularly on trafficking in persons), building the capacity of key stakeholders, enhancing criminal justice responses to trafficking and strengthening cross-border collaboration.

The Project will be guided by a Project Steering Committee with members from the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources, National Commission for Women and Children, Department of Immigration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Office of the Attorney General, Royal Bhutan Police, Gross National Happiness Commission, Bureau of Law and Order and the RENEW.