WOMEN AND YOUTH: Our Future, Now
This Manifesto is about what we must do now for the future of our nation. That means agenda for the youth as well as women, to which we now turn before anything else.
The character and values of young people today define our nation’s future. So do women, for it is widely acknowledged that enlightened and healthy mothers influence the character of future generations far more than those of their fathers. And, like all countries of the world, a lion’s share of the Bhutanese population is women and the youth. So, we must make sure that we never become a society that narrows life choices and opportunities for women and the younger generation.
To be sure, Bhutan is regarded internationally as a gender-balanced country where women enjoy equal rights under law and overt gender discrimination are largely absent. Bhutan is also seen abroad as a nation whose people value their children enormously. But, we do not want to compare ourselves to an average world practice, for the issues are simply too important.
We know gender discrimination is present in Bhutan, however covert it may be. We know that some of our young citizens are increasingly unhappy, facing unemployment, substance abuse or teenage pregnancy – barriers that block them from unleashing their true potential. And, those despicable abuses of power called domestic violence and child abuse are also present in our society.
And, we know that covert bias is much harder to change than overt ones, for it is about people’s mindset, habit and behaviour. We know, too, that abuse of power in general, and violence against women and young people in particular, are tough to detect and even tougher to remove.
We – including members of our Party’s Women and Youth Support Groups – do not pretend to understand all the reasons why, nor do we have magic solutions for these inequities and social ills. But, we also know there are governments, non-government organizations, and private corporations around the world that have taken on discrimination in workplace, and are winning the fight. Lessons we have harvested from such successful cases are the following:
- Conviction of the top leadership matters, and matters a great deal, in changing mindset and ending discriminatory practices;
- Sustained change begins when those in the position of power wake up to benefits of diversity as “good for business!”
- Numbers matter. Visible presence of discriminated people in leadership groups, such as senior management or in the parliament, starting as low as around 10~20% begins to accelerate cultural change;
- Solutions that give special treatments, such as quota, tend not to work. Because they amount to reverse discrimination, they demean merit-based achievements of discriminated people, invite backlash, and reduce the likelihood of lasting change.
- What works in raising the representation of minority groups is to recruit qualified candidates actively leaving no stones unturned, and to make final selections strictly on merit. Those who are qualified in spite of discrimination tend to be the best anyway. Such practices quickly build employers’ credibility and pave way for career advancement of the minority group employed.
- What works, also, is to keep asking “what about women, what about the youth?” in everything one does in one’s business at all times. This is the so-called “mainstreaming”, but it works only when the attention comes with the force of conviction from the leadership.
The People’s Democratic Party already has the leadership who needs no convincing. The substance of our Manifesto is the result of asking “what about women, what about the youth?” in all its aspect. As such, we will not have a long list of policy agenda “segregated” from the rest. We invite, instead, interested readers to keep asking the same questions as we did, in reading through the Manifesto.
Policy considerations presented below contain those that do not neatly belong elsewhere, or merit a separate mention because of their importance:
Women:
- Harmonize laws and policies and enact legislation that further strengthen women’s rights, well being and welfare;
- Strengthen and support the work of National Commission for Women and Children;
- Implement the National Plan of Action for Gender;
- Mainstream women and children’s issues in all development plans;
- Together with civil society organizations, work to reduce violence against women and children, focusing particularly on far more effective implementation of laws and meaningful assistance for victims;
- Raise political participation of women, and ensure good representation in decision-making positions of the Party and the government;
- Empower women and children to participate meaningfully in matters concerning them; and
- Support the participation and representation of women throughout the public sector including local governments, the Civil Service, other public agencies and corporations.
Youth:
- Develop and implement a comprehensive Youth Policy;
- Work in partnership with the private sector and civil society organizations on positive initiatives to empower the youth and prevent their marginalization;
- Work in partnership with the private sector and support civil society organizations to create opportunities for the youth, particularly school dropouts, to acquire skills and experience required for gainful employment;
- In conjunction with civil society organizations support Youth Centres to provide social, recreational and counselling services;
- Together with sports organizations, promote the youth’s participation in sports throughout the country, in and outside school curriculum, with the view to cultivating their leadership skills and team spirit;
- Activate the Employment Trust Fund to help youth obtain gainful employment;
- Facilitate access of educated youth to international employment, training, internship programmes, through innovative bilateral arrangements; and
- Raise political participation of the youth, and ensure good representation in decision-making positions of the Party.
Youth Unemployment
Already a reality!My name is Kemey Dorji. I am from Phobjikha. I am 26 years old and unemployed.
I scored 50% in my Class XII exams, which did not qualify me for higher studies in Bhutan. I borrowed money from my friend’s father and went to study in Darjeeling. I was sure that I would get a handsome job and be able to support my family after I got a degree.
I studied hard, and when I graduated in June 2006, I expected to get a good job to pay off my loan and look after my family.
I applied for more than a dozen jobs in the government and private sector, but was successful in none. In fact I wasn’t even short-listed for most of the interviews. I think it’s because of my poor family background – I have no one to talk for me and push me forward. Or perhaps my degree certificate is useless.
Today I’m barely surviving by doing temporary jobs. I’m still looking for a job. And I have a loan to repay.
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Government sources estimate that more than 90,000 jobs need to be created in the next five years. And in Vision 2020, the Government estimated that 267,000 jobs will have to be created by 2020.
Unemployment is real. Unless we act now, many more youth can expect to join the ranks of Kemey Dorji. We cannot let that happen.
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