Bhutan justice project
Grant details
Global Challenges Research Fund, Leverhulme Foundation
Project start and end dates
2018 --
Research team members
Background and aims of the project
Bhutan transitioned from monarchical rule to hold its first democratic elections in December 2007. Its King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, retains an active presence in public life. Government of the country is based on a fusion of principles and imported models, but is most notably guided by Buddhism and a national philosophy of gross national happiness.
Justice and rule of law in Bhutan remains a work in progress. Since 2018 I have worked with JSW Law, which is Bhutan's first law school (est. 2015) and where the country's sole criminal law academic resides. The aims of this project have been twofold. First, to support justice and rule of law through collaboration with local partners on research to support better criminal law and justice practice. Second, to learn from Bhutan's indigenous approaches and Buddhist visions of justice to seed new thinking within global discourses.
- Publications
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Justice for all: Civil society engagement in Bhutan Thimphu, 29-30 May 2019
- Activities
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Delivering Bhutan's first civil society workshop on justice. Hosted in concert with JSW Law School the workshop focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and in particular SDG 5 (gender) and SDG 16 (just, peaceful and inclusive societies).
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Provision of advice to the Bhutan National Service Committee Working Group on legal, rights-based and crime-risk issues associated with enlisting young people in conflict with the law for Gyalsung.