Beyond Victims #2025 - Bhutan Edition
- CGAP South Asia
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Our seventh edition of 2025 Beyond Victims Series brings you stories of inspiring women political leaders from Bhutan.
Dive in to read stories of Tshering Tshomo, Dil Maya Rai, Aum Ngawang Pem & Dorjee Wangmo.
Tshering Tshomo - National Council Member, Bhutanese Parliament
(The lone woman to be directly elected to the National Council of Bhutan from Zhemgang District in 2023)
Tshering is the only directly elected woman in Bhutan’s National Council, representing Zhemgang district. A former teacher and businesswoman from Sonamthang village, she has emerged as a transformative leader in a political landscape where women remain vastly underrepresented - only 5 women were nominated among 84 candidates in her election cycle.
Undeterred by entrenched gender barriers and public scepticism about women’s leadership, Tshering ran her fourth campaign with determination, centring her vision on community-led development. Her pledges included annual community consultations and promoting sustainable eco-tourism as a pathway to alleviating poverty in Zhemgang, the district with Bhutan’s highest poverty rate. Through persistent grassroots engagement and genuine dialogue with constituents, she earned widespread trust and became a voice for change.
- Multiple Sources
Dil Maya Rai (Member of Parliament, National Assembly of Bhutan)
Since October 2018, Dil Maya Rai has served as an MP representing the Tashichhoeling constituency in Bhutan’s National Assembly. Bringing a diverse set of skills and expertise in development consulting with institutions such as the Asian Development Bank, UNDP, and the World Bank, she entered politics at a time when women’s representation in Bhutan’s governance was limited and societal attitudes toward gender equality were still evolving.
Rai’s career reflects a deep commitment to inclusive development. She has led and contributed to significant national and regional initiatives, including Bhutan’s Country Diagnostic Study, the UN Development Assistance Framework, and disaster management projects such as the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood initiative. In Parliament, she has been a vocal advocate for improving living conditions for teachers in remote areas and championing child protection measures.
- Multiple Sources
Aum Ngawang Pem (Commissioner, Anti-Corruption Commission, Bhutan)
Aum Ngawang Pem made history in 2012 as Bhutan’s first woman Dzongda (District Governor) of Tsirang District, breaking into a realm long dominated by men. Rising through the civil service since 1994, she faced entrenched scepticism about women’s leadership at senior administrative levels. Her appointment was not only a personal milestone but also a symbol of change for women in Bhutanese governance.
As Dzongda, Ngawang Pem demonstrated exemplary governance while championing women’s empowerment through initiatives such as the “Empowering Women as Agents of Change” workshop, fostering inclusivity, confidence, and gender awareness within local communities. Today, as Commissioner of Bhutan’s Anti-Corruption Commission, she continues to uphold integrity and public service, guiding the Commission toward its vision of a harmonious, corruption-free society.
- Multiple Sources
Dorjee Wangmo (Member of Parliament, National Assembly of Bhutan)
Elected in 2018 from the Sombaykha constituency under the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT), Dorjee Wangmo represents a new generation of Bhutanese leaders combining technical expertise with a commitment to inclusive governance.
As Chair of the Women, Children, and Youth Committee (WCYC) of the National Assembly from 2020 to 2022, Wangmo led critical reviews on gender equality, youth unemployment, and education access. Under her leadership, the committee produced evidence-based assessments showing persistent gender gaps in employment and tertiary education, and recommended concrete reforms - ranging from gender-sensitive wellbeing programs to mainstreaming child protection and gender equity into national policies.
Wangmo has also championed service delivery reforms, initiating oversight of local Drungkhag administrations to improve efficiency and responsiveness to citizen needs. Through structured consultations, multilingual data collection, and collaboration with the National Commission for Women and Children, she strengthened institutional accountability.
- Multiple Sources
Project Manager: Riya Hira
Contributors: Riya Hira, Nethra Singhi & Manali Mathur
Edited by: Sugandha Parmar
Design: Riya Hira
Template: Vida Seraphina (https://vidaseraphina.dk/)
Sources:
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