RENEW, a non-governmental organisation focusing on empowering survivors of domestic violence and gender-based violence inaugurated its community service centre in Samtse earlier this year. However, despite its crucial role in providing support, the centre has not seen many individuals coming forward to receive its assistance. The centre served 16 clients in the past four months.
The newly opened community service centre is situated behind the Samtse General Hospital. The centre can accommodate up to eight individuals in its emergency shelter.
However, many are unaware of its services.
“We have only received 16 cases from January to date. Most of these cases were related to emotional, economic, and physical abuse. We have had only a few walk-in clients. Most of the cases were referred to us by the hospital, the Royal Bhutan Police, and the Dzongkhag administration,” said Jessica Gurung, a case management officer at the RENEW centre in Samtse.
To address the issue, the centre plans to open its outreach programmes aimed at reaching individuals in remote areas soon.
“People in far-flung places are still not aware of the RENEW centre and the services we provide. This lack of awareness is hindering our ability to reach out to those in need. However, this year, we will be focusing on outreach programs, and we will try to reach out to far-flung areas and provide our services,” said Jessica Gurung.
Besides providing case management and counselling services, the centre today offers livelihood skilling programmes to empower women, children, and men affected by violence.
RENEW has ten community service centres across ten districts.
Last year, RENEW recorded close to 800 cases, with the most common being emotional abuse at over 370 cases, followed by 216 cases of gender-based violence.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Sonam Pem
