The Bhutan National Legal Institute is pleased to announce the establishment of a Regional Legal Aid Center at the Phuentsholing Dungkhag Court, with support from UNDP Bhutan and the European Union, marking a significant milestone in our ongoing effort to enhance access to justice across the country. The center was inaugurated on August 30th by His Excellency Lyonpo Norbu Tshering, Chief Justice of Bhutan, and His Excellency Mr. Mohammad Younus, Resident Representative of UNDP Bhutan.
Phuentsholing, as one of Bhutan’s busiest commercial and border towns, serves people from the south-central districts. The new Legal Aid Center will provide timely support and guidance, ensuring that legal services are closer and more accessible to those who need them most.
The Center will focus on offering legal advice and assistance, facilitating referrals, supporting individuals at early stages of legal proceedings, and conducting legal awareness programs in collaboration with local partners. It will also serve as a hub for coordination between the courts, law enforcement agencies, civil society organizations, and legal professionals, helping to strengthen a more inclusive justice system.
This expansion reflects Bhutan’s constitutional commitment to justice, fairness, and equality. By bringing services to Phuentsholing, the Bhutan National Legal Institute reaffirms its pledge to ensure that justice is not a privilege but a right enjoyed by all, delivered with compassion and respect.