Bhutan is divided into 20 districts, each called a district (Dzongkhag). At the local level, the district assembly (Dzongkhag Tshogdu), subdistrict assembly (Gewog Tshogde) and municipal assembly (Thromde Tshogde) work with elected members. A subdistrict (Gewog) comprises village units; a village unit (Chiwog) includes, among others, the head of a Gewog (Gup), deputy head of a Gewog (Mangmi) and local representative (Tshogpa), while a municipality (Thromde) is led by the head of a Thromde (Thrompon). District assemblies meet at least twice a year, while subdistrict and municipal assemblies meet at least three times. Public local concerns can be submitted through the responsible local administration. Bhutanese citizens may vote from the age of 18 if they possess a Citizenship Card and have been registered in the constituency for at least one year. Courts are open to every person; however, non-Bhutanese nationals do not have the same political rights as Citizens. The Constitution protects Bhutanese citizens from discrimination based on race, sex, language, religion, politics or another status and guarantees, among other things, freedom of expression, access to information, religion, and peaceful assembly and association. It requires everyone to protect the environment, culture and public property, assist victims of accidents and disasters, and act against violence or abuse. Informal customs may shape everyday interaction but have no independent force of law. Buddhism is regarded as Bhutan’s spiritual heritage; at the same time, the state protects all religions. Religious institutions and religious personalities remain politically separate. The authority for religious organizations (Chhoedey Lhentshog) registers religious organizations and is intended to safeguard religious harmony; a registration decision should take no more than six months. Religious institutions include the monastic body (Dratshang), temple (Lhakhang), religious community (Goendey) and Hindu temple (Hindu Mandir). Naturalization requires, among other things, at least 15 years of lawful residence, knowledge of Dzongkha, knowledge of Bhutanese culture and history, and renunciation of the previous nationality. A nationwide uniform channel for local inclusion is not evidenced. Environmental and pollution rules apply to public spaces and also cover noise as well as visual and physical pollution. Under the Waste Prevention and Management Regulations, the Thromde organizes waste separation, collection, processing, transport and disposal. Communities, elected Thumis or Tsogpas and the Royal Bhutan Police work together on this. Violations can be reported to the responsible Local Authority or the Royal Bhutan Police. Zero Waste Hour is a one-hour cleanup activity on the second day of each month. In Thimphu, the City Environment Division additionally manages waste, parks, open spaces, usage bookings and Community Waste Volunteers. There are no uniform rules for using all public places; local requirements and procedures may differ. Conflicts may first be resolved through an agreement. The Alternative Dispute Resolution Act 2013 also allows negotiation and arbitration through the independent alternative dispute resolution centre (Bhutan ADR Centre). Rules of the Local Governments remain applicable to local disputes. Costs and duration depend on the case and the chosen procedure; a nationwide uniform private fee for neighborhood mediation is not evidenced. In cases of violence in a domestic relationship, the Domestic Violence Prevention Act covers physical, sexual, emotional and economic violence. A report may be submitted by the victim, a person seeking protection, a caregiver of a minor, a Protection or Social Welfare Officer, an educational institution or the police on their own initiative. The report may be made orally, in writing or through another communication channel and is treated confidentially. An Interim Protection Order may, under certain conditions, be issued without a prior hearing; the response to the application should take no more than 15 days, and a Protection Order may remain valid for up to nine months. The Royal Bhutan Police and the courts enforce protection orders. The National Commission for Women and Children provides legal and protection services and may refer cases to the police, courts, local administrations or Civil Society Organizations. In acute danger, the Royal Bhutan Police can be reached at 113. The current information on the Women-and-Child Helpline 1098 should be checked again before use because official information is not consistent. Civil Society Organizations and Public Benefit Organizations supplement state services and may promote social harmony and Gross National Happiness. However, they may not conduct direct electoral or political activities or incite hostility on the basis of race, sex, language, religion or region. The CSO Authority decides on registrations within no more than six months. Friends of Police is a voluntary community-policing program (Friends of Police) for adult Citizens and non-Bhutanese nationals living in Bhutan; registration takes place online and the induction lasts one day. The Royal Bhutan Police is also developing community-policing strategies. For living together in rented housing, only the co-existence-related parts of the Tenancy Act 2015 and the Tenancy Rules and Regulations 2021 apply. Among other rights, tenants have rights to privacy, peaceful use, adequate housing and protection from unlawful termination. They must dispose of waste correctly and live hygienically. Tenancy disputes should first be resolved through an agreement; afterwards, a Dispute Settlement Committee at district, municipal or subdistrict level may have jurisdiction. An appeal against a decision may be brought before the Royal Court within ten working days. A nationwide uniform channel for conflicts between roommates is not evidenced. For digital conflicts and abuse, the Information, Communications and Media Act 2018, the National Cybersecurity Strategy 2024-2029 and the NDI Act 2023 apply, among other rules. These rules concern online privacy, personal data, communication with children, obscene communication, cybercrime, electronic transactions, and control over digital access credentials and data breaches. The national cyber incident response team (BtCIRT) also accepts cyber incidents anonymously. The Cybercrime Investigation Unit of the Royal Bhutan Police handles, among other matters, fraud, hacking and identity theft. There is no separate mediation service for digital co-existence; depending on the case, BtCIRT, the police, NCWC or PEMA and the relevant service provider may be involved. General fees for access to local co-existence services are not evidenced. Fees, deadlines and procedures may differ for registrations, tenancy proceedings, ADR and local administrative services.
Living together in Bhutan
Living together in Bhutan is shaped by local governments, communities, religious institutions and state protection bodies. Elected Local Governments address public concerns, involve community organizations and operate at district, subdistrict and municipal levels. Rules on waste, public spaces, tenancy, digital security and conflicts differ according to jurisdiction and procedure. The Constitution protects equality and citizens’ rights and requires everyone to protect the environment, culture and public property.
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