Gakey Lamtoen: Bhutan GBV Prevention Project
Background
Gakey Lamtoen, the first project on the primary prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) in Bhutan, aims to promote healthy relationships and equitable social norms and practices among adolescents and caregivers. Inspired by “Partners for Prevention”, a joint initiative of UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women and UN Volunteers, it uses a school-based curriculum on topics such as gender equality, safe and happy relationships and community activism. The project also includes social innovation camps for adolescents, which worked to empower youth to identify and present solutions to ending GBV to community leaders and provided workshop style dialogues with the caregivers.
After piloting Gakey Lamtoen in one school, it reported a 13 percent improvement in gender equitable attitudes among participating adolescents. The Project Steering Committee, which includes the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, National Commission for Women and Children, Gross National Happiness Commission, Royal Bhutan Police, Thimphu Municipality, and civil society partners, agreed to roll out the project in three additional schools in 2022.
Videos:
- Video: Participants, facilitators and members of the Gakey Lamtoen
- Video: No more tolerance, acceptance, and impunity for violence against women and girls