Year of entry into force: 2008
Region: Asia
Human rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of association, Freedom of expression, Freedom of movement and residence, Freedom of religion, Right of access to information, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to education, Right to health, Right to liberty and security of person, Right to life, Right to participation, Right to privacy, Right to property, Right to work
Excerpts
Fundamental Rights
Art. 7(1) All persons shall have the right to life, liberty and security of person and shall not be deprived of such rights except in accordance with the due process of law.
Art. 7(2) A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech, opinion and expression.
Art. 7(3) A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to information.
Art. 7(4) 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.
Art. 7(5) There shall be freedom of the press, radio and television and other forms of dissemination of information, including electronic.
Art. 7(6) A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to vote.
Art. 7(7) A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to freedom of movement and residence within Bhutan.
Art. 7(8) A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to equal access and opportunity to join the Public Service.
Art. 7(9) A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to own property, but shall not have the right to sell or transfer land or any immovable property to a person who is not a citizen of Bhutan, except in keeping with laws enacted by Parliament.
Art. 7(10) A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to practice any lawful trade, profession or vocation.
Art. 7(11) A Bhutanese citizen shall have the right to equal pay for work of equal value.
Art. 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.
Art. 7(14) A person shall not be deprived of property by acquisition or requisition, except for public purpose and on payment of fair compensation in accordance with the provisions of the law.
Art. 7(15) All persons are equal before the law and are entitled to equal and effective protection of the law and shall not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, sex, language, religion, politics or other status.
Art. 7(16) A person charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law.
Art. 7(17) A person shall not be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Art. 7(18) A person shall not be subjected to capital punishment.
Art. 7(19) 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.
Art. 7(20) A person shall not be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention.
Art. 7(21) A person shall have the right to consult and be represented by a Bhutanese Jabmi of his or her choice.
Art. 8(16) The State shall provide free education to all children of school going age up to tenth standard and ensure that technical and professional education is made generally available and that higher education is equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.