10th CEDAW Interim Progress Report Review Consultation

The National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC) as the nodal agency for Gender Mainstreaming and Child Protection is mandated with legal and policy framework, regulatory and monitoring, coordination, data management, intervention through gender and child perspective, reporting to the government, regional and international treaty bodies. The NCWC conducted a two day CEDAW Interim Progress Report Review Consultation on 26th and 27th May, 2025 in Paro.

Bhutan joined the United Nations in 1971 and since then Bhutan ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1981 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991. As a State Party, Bhutan has submitted several rounds of reports to the CEDAW Committee. Bhutan presented its 10th periodic report to the CEDAW Committee on 10th October 2023 at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland. The Bhutanese delegation was led by the Cabinet Secretary and representatives from the NCWC Secretariat, the Judiciary, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Royal University of Bhutan, The PEMA Secretariat, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.

The report will feature a comprehensive analysis of programmatic initiatives undertaken to strengthen the three Concluding Observations of the CEDAW Committee focusing on improving the responsiveness, inclusivity, and accessibility of services rendered following the last CEDAW Constructive Dialogue at the United Nations in Geneva. It will also examine efforts to enhance service provision and support mechanisms such as legal aid, psychosocial support and counseling, shelter services, and community-based interventions aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based violence. These initiatives collectively contribute to the broader goal of eliminating gender-based violence in the country by addressing systemic barriers and promoting survivor-centered approaches.

The CEDAW Committee has requested the Royal Government of Bhutan to provide within two years, written information on the steps taken to implement the recommendations in three of the Committee’s Concluding Observations on the following:

• 15 (national machinery);
• 23 (b) (non-governmental organizations) and
• 35 (a) and (b) (participation in political and public life) above.

The review workshop gathered 17 officials (9 female) from various government agencies, Civil Society Organizations, the Gender Expert Group of the NCWC, development partners and NCWC Secretariat. Day one of the workshop began with a presentation on introduction to CEDAW and its mechanisms, followed by a presentation on the three concluding observations and action required following the 10th CEDAW constructive dialogue in 2023.

Participants were engaged in documenting and verifying progress made from November 2023 to date, which was followed by plenary sessions. Subsequently, the draft report and consolidated action plans were reviewed for refinement and improvement.

The NCWC remains grateful to all agencies for their continued support and collaboration in our collective endeavor to achieve gender equality.

The consultation was supported by the UNDP/EU project on “Strengthening People Centric and Inclusive Access to Access to Justice”.