Building Inclusive and Safe Spaces: UN Bhutan Trains Staff and Partners on Disability, Gender, and PSEA.

The session brought together newly appointed UN staff, security personnel, hotel Long-Term Agreement (LTA) holders, and vehicle rental service providers to strengthen understanding of inclusive practices.

Mr. Phuntsho Wangyel, UNFPA Bhutan Head of Office and Chair of the UN Bhutan Interagency Human Rights, Gender and Disability Inclusion Working Group, opened the meeting. He stated:

“Disability equality is about listening, understanding their needs, aspirations, challenges, and creating inclusive environments and empowering them. Respect in words and actions matters, and understanding gender roles and intersectionality helps ensure equitable opportunities for all. Upholding these standards also means maintaining safe spaces. The UN’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse applies to everyone, making dignity a shared responsibility.”

Disability Equality: Understanding Barriers, Building Respect

Facilitators - including UN staff with disabilities and representatives from the Disabled People’s Organisation of Bhutan (DPOB) - guided participants through practical demonstrations on disability etiquette. For example, when supporting a person with blindness, participants were reminded to introduce themselves first, speak directly, offer their arm for guidance, and describe the environment clearly.

The session also introduced the basics of Bhutanese Sign Language (BHSL) and highlighted communication challenges faced by the deaf community. Discussions on physical disability emphasised how exclusion often stems from societal and environmental barriers rather than impairment itself. 

Gender Equality and Intersectionality: Breaking Down Stereotypes

Facilitators unpacked key concepts on gender roles, stereotypes, and socialisation. Participants examined different models of equality — from formal equality, which treats everyone the same without accounting for differing needs, to protectionist approaches, which can unintentionally restrict opportunities.

The training highlighted the value of a corrective approach that focuses on fixing barriers in the environment rather than expecting individuals to adapt. For example, instead of limiting opportunities for women, persons with disabilities, or other marginalised groups, the corrective approach ensures that workplaces, policies, and services are enabling and inclusive, achieving equality through equitable processes.

Intersectionality was a core theme, showing how overlapping dimensions such as disability, gender, poverty, and geography can increase vulnerability. For instance, women with disabilities are more likely to face violence, while those from poor or rural backgrounds face additional challenges in accessing services.

Addressing PSEA in All Contexts

The training also included a session on protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), reminding participants of their shared responsibility to uphold the highest standards of conduct in all workplace and service delivery contexts. It was emphasised that the UN has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse.  The UN in Bhutan only partners with LTA holders and service providers who commit to these standards in their agreements and daily practice.

Building an Inclusive UN System

By the end of the day, participants gained greater awareness of disability as a human rights and equality issue, strengthened their understanding of gender and intersectionality, and committed to fostering safe and inclusive environments.

Mr. Kinley Phyntso, UN UNV-LNOB Specialist, and one of the moderators of the training stated:

“Inclusion, equality, and safety are fundamental rights - at work, at home, and in society. They are not privileges or charity, and they must be respected and upheld for and by everyone, regardless of gender or ability. We encourage each of you to consider how you can personally contribute to making this a reality.”

This training contributes to advancing the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) and the UN System-wide Action Plan on Gender Equality (UN-SWAP) in Bhutan, reinforcing the UN’s commitment to uphold equality, dignity, and inclusion in all aspects of its work.