Project MEDUSA to Combat SEAH Among Youth Launched
In observance of International Youth Day, the Bhutan National Legal Institute (BNLI), in collaboration with the Social Justice Initiative (SJI) Club of Jigme Singye Wangchuck School of Law, officially launched Project MEDUSA, an ambitious national advocacy program aimed at addressing the growing concerns of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH) among youth in Bhutan. The initiative, formally titled Project MEDUSA: Mitigating Exploitation, Defending the Unprotected, and Stopping Abuse, is generously supported by Save the Children Bhutan, whose enduring commitment to child protection and social justice has been instrumental in bringing this project to life.
Project MEDUSA is a timely and strategic response to the persistent challenges posed by SEAH, particularly among vulnerable populations. While Bhutan has enacted progressive legal frameworks such as the Child Care and Protection Act 2011 and the Penal Code of Bhutan 2004, the prevalence of stigma, misinformation, and underreporting reveals a critical gap in legal literacy and access to protective mechanisms. This initiative seeks to bridge that gap by empowering youth with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to recognize, prevent, and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse.
The Social Justice Initiative, comprising 35 trained law students at JSW Law, has taken the lead in conceptualizing and implementing Project MEDUSA as part of the broader SHIFT Campaign, funded by Save the Children Bhutan. The program adopts a survivor-centered, rights-based approach that integrates legal education, storytelling, and youth engagement to dismantle harmful narratives and foster informed action. Several members of the SJI have undergone specialized training facilitated by UN Bhutan. As of this launch, over 90 percent of the club’s members are certified in Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEAH) using UN-approved materials.
Recognizing BNLI’s pivotal role in coordinating law clubs across schools nationwide, the Institute has entered into formal collaboration with JSW Law to institutionalize Project MEDUSA as a national campaign. Through this partnership, the initiative will be disseminated via school-based law clubs, transforming these platforms into sustainable engines of legal empowerment and youth-led advocacy. However, the program is delivered virtually due to the wide range of Clubs across Bhutan, ensuring accessibility and age-appropriate engagement across diverse educational settings.
The overarching goal of Project MEDUSA is to cultivate a culture of accountability, consent, and protection among Bhutanese youth. By equipping students with practical intervention strategies such as the “4Ds” of bystander action, alongside legal knowledge on victim protection and survivor support systems, the initiative aims to foster a generation of proactive bystanders who challenge injustice and advocate for systemic change within their schools and communities.
The project’s expected outcomes include a measurable increase in legal literacy on SEAH, enhanced reporting and intervention by trained youth, a reduction in victim-blaming narratives and gender biases, and the establishment of law clubs as enduring platforms for SEAH advocacy. Ultimately, Project MEDUSA aspires to strengthen national solidarity and support for survivors, contributing to a more just, informed, and compassionate Bhutan.
The first phase of the advocacy program reached 36 of the 53 School Law Clubs across Bhutan, engaging over 1000 students from Classes IV to XII. The second phase, scheduled for August 16, will include the remaining 16 clubs, with an estimated 500 additional participants.
BNLI sincerely appreciates the schools that welcomed non-club members, underscoring the value of this initiative. We look forward to continued collaboration and support in future programs.