Bhutan
Bhutan
| Right | Section | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom of Association | History | Freedom of association is asserted in the Constitution of Bhutan of 2008, enacted July 18th under Article 7(12): "A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, other than membership of associations that are harmful to the peace and unity of the country, and shall have the right not to be compelled to belong to any association."
References: Bhutan 2008 Constitution: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Bhutan_2008 |
| Freedom of Expression | History | In The Kingdom of Bhutan all Bhutanese citizens are granted the right to free speech and expression under article 7 of the 2008 constitution. This does however only apply to those citizens of Bhutan.
References: Bhutan 2008 Constitution: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Bhutan_2008 |
| Freedom of Religion | History | According to Article 7.4 of the 2008 Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan, "A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. No person shall be compelled to belong to another faith by means of coercion or inducement."
References: 2008 Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan: "Article 7: Fundamental Rights," Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008, 14: https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzbt0002&id=22&men_tab=srchresults |
| Freedom of the Press | History | Article 7, Section 5 of Bhutan’s 2008 Constitution protects freedom of the press: “There shall be freedom of the press, radio and television and other forms of dissemination of information, including electronic” (Constitute Project, “Bhutan's Constitution of 2008” ).
References: Bhutan 2008 Constitution: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Bhutan_2008 |
| Privacy Rights | History | In 2008, a new constitution was passed, which protected privacy rights in Article 19. Article 19 reads: "A person shall not be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, home or correspondence nor to unlawful attacks on the person's honour and reputation.”
References: Bhutan 2008 Constitution: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Bhutan_2008 |
| Voting Rights and Suffrage | History | Article 23(2) of the 2008 Bhutan Constitution discusses the right to vote: "A person shall have the right to vote by direct adult suffrage through secret ballot at an election if the person is: (a) A Bhutanese citizen as evidenced by a Citizenship
Card: (b) Not less than eighteen years of age: (c) Registered in the civil registry of that constituency for not less than one year, prior to the date of the election; and (d) Not otherwise disqualified from voting under any law in force in Bhutan. References: 2008 Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan: "Article 23: Elections," Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008 : 46-47: https://heinonline-org.proxygw.wrlc.org/HOL/Page collection=cow&handle=hein.cow/zzbt0002&id=55&men_tab=srchresults |