In Bhutan, putting people first is not new. It is woven into the philosophy of Gross National Happiness. This also extends to the justice sector, which helps uphold a society grounded in the rule of law. 

Under the leadership of Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck, Bhutan’s justice sector has been redefining what justice looks like, not just as laws and judgments, but as a service that listens, understands, and responds to people’s needs. 

In other words, it has to be people-centric.

But what does “people-centric justice” really mean?

For Yeshi Yuden, a Court Registrar in Paro, the answer became clear during a three-day training on people-centric justice in Haa last summer, supported through the Bhuan-UNDP-EU partnership aimed at strengthening access to inclusive and people-centric justice.

“Before the training, my understanding of justice was rooted in rules, procedures, and case files,” she reflected. “But over those three days, I was reminded that at the heart of justice are people. Behind every case file is a face, and behind every complaint, a cry for fairness.”

This powerful reflection goes to the heart of the matter. Justice is not only delivered through rulings. It is also delivered in how people are treated while seeking justice. A system may be efficient on paper, yet feels distant or intimidating in practice. It may resolve cases quickly, but fail to truly listen.

As Yeshi reflected, in the busy rhythm of courtrooms, it is easy to become overly focused on efficiency and indifferent to the needs and emotions of those who come before the law. A people-centric approach challenges this. It insists that empathy, dignity, and accessibility are not extras; they are essential to delivering true and meaningful justice.

Changing how justice is delivered

Across Bhutan, this shift is already underway. Trainings on people-centric justice, like the one in Haa that Yeshi Yuden attended along with more than 50 other frontline justice service providers, are driving this shift.

They are embracing approaches that put people first, including gender-responsive practices, trauma-informed care, disability inclusion, and restorative justice.

These changes may seem subtle, but they matter deeply. They shape how people experience the system at moments when they are most vulnerable. And when people feel heard and respected, trust grows and social cohesion is strengthened. Justice, in this sense, strengthens society.

Bringing justice closer to people

Still, for many people, access to justice can be challenged by barriers, such as poverty, illiteracy, gender, disability, or distance. This is where legal aid is making a difference.

Bhutan’s Constitution is clear. Justice should not be denied to anyone because of economic or other disadvantages. In 2022, Bhutan established its National Legal Aid Centre under the Bhutan National Legal Institute with support from UNDP Core Resources. 

The Centre provides free legal support to those who cannot afford it, helping individuals resolve family disputes, secure compensation after workplace injuries, and seek protection from abuse. These cases rarely make headlines, but they reflect everyday struggles often left unresolved because people lack the means or confidence to seek help.

To extend legal aid further, two regional legal aid centres were opened in Phuentsholing and Mongar in 2025 with support from the UNDP and EU-supported access to justice project. These centres are bringing services closer to the vulnerable communities, including women in difficult circumstances, persons with disabilities, and survivors of gender-based violence.

Legal aid, therefore, is one of the clearest expressions of people-centric justice. It transforms justice from a right into a public service people can actually reach.

Digital innovation to make justice even more accessible and inclusive

Bhutan is also turning to digital solutions to make justice more accessible and inclusive. 

In March 2026, the country launched its first Justice Sector Digital Blueprint. At its core is a “One Justice” approach, bringing together police, prosecutors, courts, and oversight bodies through connected digital systems.

By allowing information to move more easily and securely across institutions, the system aims to reduce delays, improve coordination, and make the process simpler and smoother for those seeking justice.

When technology is designed with people in mind, it can make justice faster, fairer, and easier to access. The challenge now is to translate the blueprint into action, which will require partnerships and investment.

Bhutan’s wider shift towards inclusive services beyond the justice sector

This people-centric approach is not limited to the justice sector only.

Across Bhutan, public services are being reimagined to be more inclusive. In Dagana, for example, the district hospital has redesigned some of its facilities to better serve persons with disabilities, the elderly, and pregnant women, groups often overlooked when public infrastructure and services are designed.

With ramps, handrails, accessible washrooms, clear signage, and tactile features, patients can now move through the hospital independently and with dignity. 

This transformative effort is one of the tangible results of a partnership between the Office of the Cabinet Affairs and Strategic Coordination, the Disabled People’s Organisation, the Dagapela local government and hospital, and UNDP, supported by our global Funding Windows partners—the Governments of Denmark, Luxembourg, and the Republic of Korea.

In recent years, UNDP supported the Disabled People’s Organization to roll out Disability Equality Training (DET) for public service providers across the country. Led by persons with disabilities themselves, these trainings have helped embed inclusion in public services. For example, following a training for Drukair staff in 2024, the national airline introduced priority check-in and boarding services for persons with disabilities. “It was wonderful to see Drukair give priority to persons with disabilities. It brought a smile to my face, and I could not help but think that the DET must have made a real impact,” writes a passenger to Phurpa Wangchuck, who leads UNDP’s work on disability inclusion.

These changes may seem small, but their impact is profound. They reflect a broader shift: public services must work for everyone, especially those who are most often left behind.

Whether in a courtroom, hospital or airport, the principle remains the same. Systems must adapt to people, not the other way around.

A partnership built over time

This progress has been shaped by years of collaboration built on trust and shared goals.

For more than a decade, UNDP has worked with Bhutan’s justice sector to strengthen access, coordination, and inclusivity. This collaboration helped shape the first Justice Sector Strategic Plan in 2018, bringing together key justice institutions and marking an important step in Bhutan’s efforts to build a more coordinated and people-centric justice system.

Over the years, the partnership has supported key institutions, including the Bhutan National Legal Institute and the Bar Council of Bhutan, strengthening the foundations of the justice system. In 2024, it helped shape the second Justice Sector Strategic Plan.

This longstanding collaboration also laid the foundation for the ongoing partnership with the EU that’s helping strengthen inclusive and people-centric access to justice. Together, these efforts are helping Bhutan build a justice system that is not only efficient, but fair, accessible, and grounded in the needs of its people.

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