Asian Breeze No.99 Online NewsletterNo.

99

December
2023

KITAKYUSHU FORUM ON ASIAN WOMEN
Kitakyushu Otemachi Building 3F, Otemachi 11-4,
Kokurakita, Kitakkyushu, Fukuoka 803-0814 JAPAN
PHONE +81-93-583-3434 FAX +81-93-583-5195
E-mail: info@kfaw.or.jp URL: https://www.kfaw.or.jp/en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kfaw.or.jp.en

Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW) Web-based Newsletter

Contents
Victim Support for Digital Sexual Crimes in Korea, focusing on the Incheon Digital Sexual
Crimes Prevention Center's One-Stop Integrated Support.
- Kim Han Sol (IFWF(Inchon Foundation for Women and Family)) ……………………………………….1
Self-transformation and its impact on populace through the lens of GCFP…………………….4- Sonam Dorji (Sr. Legal Officer

Gelephu Thromde Administration)

My Daily Work………………………………………………………………………………………7- Yeshey Lam ( Deputy Chief counselor

National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC))

Women’s issues in Bhutan…………………………………………………………………………. 9-Lhaden Wangmo ( CSO RENEW Project Manager)
CSO (Civil Society Organization)
RENEW (Respect, Educate, Nurture, Empower Women)

I to T (Internet to Things Every object is connected to the Internet.) In recent years,
digital sex crimes such as the n-ban room incident have become a major problem inSouth Korea, and a report on victim protection was given from Incheon, South Korea,
a sister city of Kitakyushu City.
From Bhutan, two government officials and an CSO, who came to Japan in May-June
this year for JICA training, spoke about gender issues in relation to their daily work.

Victim Support for Digital Sexual
Crimes in Korea, focusing on the
Incheon Digital Sexual Crimes
Prevention
Center's
One-Stop
Integrated Support.
- Kim Han Sol
IFWF(Inchon Foundation for Women and Family)

In Korea, public awareness of digital sexual1Asian Breeze No.99 Online Newsletter
crimes has increased since the "Sora.net case"

The Incheon Digital Sexual Crimes Prevention

and continues to rise due to repeated occurrencesof these crimes on different platforms, such as
web hard cartels, dark web operations, and the
Nth Room case. The severity of digital sexual
crimes targeting children and adolescents wasbrought to the forefront by the Nth Room case,which shook Korean society and led to therevision of digital sexual crime-related laws
(commonly known as the "Nth Room Prevention

Center is a victim support organization for digitalsexual crimes operated by the Incheon
Metropolitan City, a local government in South
Korea. The Center began its operations on June
14, 2021, with a focus on empowering victims
during the support process. It provides a range ofservices, including counseling, recovery, andnecessary support to individuals who facedifficulties due to digital sexual crimes, with theAct"). The legal basis for punishing perpetrators
was strengthened by adding and supplementing
the "Act on Special Cases Concerning The
Punishment Of Sexual Crimes" and the " Act on
Protection of Children and Juveniles against
Sexual Abuse," thereby establishing a legal
framework for protecting victims.1
Digital sexual crimes punishable under the law
are broadly categorized as illegal filming, non-ultimate goal of helping them return to their daily
lives.
The Center's "one-stop integrated support"
program comprises various services, including
counseling support, deletion support, case
support, legal support, medical expense support,
and healing program support. During thecounseling support process, the Center addresses
the psychological difficulties experienced byconsensual distribution, distribution with threats,
possession, purchase, storage, distribution, andconsumption of illegal filming materials forprofit, production and distribution of false videos,
production of grooming and sexual exploitationmaterials targeting children and adolescents, andsexual harassment in cyberspace (Kim Hee-jungand Park Kwang-min, 2020). 23 However,despite these legal provisions, there are still typesof crimes that remain unpunishable under the law

victims through phone or face-to-face counseling,
identifies the victim's needs, and develops asuitable support plan. The deletion support
service monitors the distribution of filmedmaterials without the victim's consent, such asvideos that were filmed and distributed without
consent on domestic or foreign platforms. If thevideo has been distributed, in case it is used in
the investigation, they document the distribution
and request that it be removed as soon as possible.

and continue to occur. The Incheon Digital
Sexual Crimes Prevention Center provides
comprehensive support to victims, which is not
limited to the legally defined types of digitalsexual crimes.

We are also requesting that the site be blocked sothat other users cannot access it.
The case support process provided by the
Incheon Digital Sexual Crimes Prevention
Center ensures that victims are not excluded"A Bill to Partially Amend the Special Act on the
Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes," 377th
National Assembly, No. 2024883 (Apr. 29, 2020).
2
Kim, Hee-Jung and Park, Kwang-Min. (2020). The
Concept, Types, and Actuality of Digital Sexual Crimes
and Ways to Improve. Sungkyunkwan Law Review,32(4), 237-276.
3 Ministry of Justice, "Types of Digital Sex Crimes,"
LivingLaw
Information,
https://easylaw.go.kr/CSP/CnpClsMain.laf?csmSeq=15
94&ccfNo=1&cciNo=1&cnpClsNo=1 (last visited May
7, 2023).

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Online Newsletterfrom information during police and prosecution

industries (Kim, Han-gyun, 2020). 5 Thus, theinvestigations and supports them in responding
appropriately at each stage. To ensure defense
rights during criminal procedures, defendants areprovided with information on the progress of thecase and controversial issues. However, given
the lengthy criminal process that lasts for morethan a year, victims may experience exclusionfrom information such as the status of theperpetrator's punishment, which can exacerbate

Center strives to improve awareness bypromoting the understanding that the essence ofdigital sexual crimes is a problem of the social
structure that commodifies women's bodies.
Moreover, the Center conducts activities toprevent digital sexual crimes, such as sharing themain types and methods of occurrence that can
expose teenagers to the risk of digital sexual
crimes and providing education on how to use

their anxiety. Additionally, during the trial
process, defendants may deny the abusive acts,and victims may be required to attend as
witnesses during the dispute, making continuous
case support necessary. The Center collaborates
with lawyers in charge throughout the entire
criminal procedure to provide professional legal
support and ensure that victims are protected andable to find their rights.

the digital space safely. The Center will continue
its prevention and response activities reflecting
the voices of victims to eradicate digital sexual
crimes.
Since digital sexual crimes have no boundaries
between regions and countries, the problem willcontinue to occur without spatial constraints asdigital devices become widespread and access tothe online environment becomes universal.

Finally, the Center's key support is victim
recovery. Helping victims overcome physicaltrauma and psychological difficulties is crucial
for their return to everyday life. Thus, the Center
provides direct support for victims' physical andmental treatment expenses and operates
customized healing programs for digital sexual
crime victims to aid their return to their daily
lives. Given that digital sexual crimes often
involve underage victims, the Center operates

Therefore, we strongly feel the necessity ofinternational alliance and hope for a national
alliance between Korea and Japan to eradicate
digital sexual crimes.
Incheon Foundation for Women andFamilyIncheon Foundation for Women and Family aims torealize gender equality in Incheon and wasestablished in 2013 through the merger of the

programs consisting of media such as art andsand play, considering their specific needs.4
In addition, the Incheon Digital Sexual Crimes
Prevention Center recognizes that the structuralessence of digital sexual crimes is gender-based
violence that combines misogyny, child andadolescent sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation

IncheonDevelopment Research Women's Policy Centre andthe Incheon Women's Culture Centre.
For the past 10 years, the foundation has conducted
research on women and family policy in line with
regional characteristics and women's social

For more information on the center's support, see thevideo "A Day in the Life of Daon"(https://youtu.be/whKJBoj6ExQ).

Kim, Han-gyun. (2020). Blocking and dealing withdigital sex crimes - Criminalization of technologymediated gender-based violence. Justice, 178, 369-392.

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shared by fellow participants, especially the
CBSS (Community Based Support System)
volunteers. Further, I had the privilege to attend
country focused training on Protection and Careof Women and Children in Japan for three weeks.
Hence, with the objective of serving thevulnerable sections of the society through myknowledge and experience gained, I also joined
CBSS as a volunteer.

education. It also spearheads employment
promotion projects. Since 2021, the Foundation
has also been operating the Gender Equality
Museum DADARUM and the Digital Sexual Crime
Prevention and Response Centre, as well as theChildren's Love & Dreams Square Operational
Support Organization to promote the culture ofgender equality, in order to get closer to citizens.
In the future, the foundation will strengthen its

Roles of GCFP

cooperation with the Incheon City Government
and incorporate the voices of Incheon women into

As GCFP, I assume the following multifaceted
responsibilities as:

its policies and projects. By acting as a hub forcommunication with the community, we strive tocreate an Incheon that is a harmonious blend ofa. Protection Officer: Conduct assessments on

work, life, and rest.

survivors of domestic violence and child abuse.
b. Probation Officer: deal with the diversionof children in conflict with laws.

Self-Transformation and its impact on
populace through the lens of GCFP

c. Member secretary to TWCC (Thromde
Women and Children Committee): Initiate any
critical issues and challenges affecting womenand children.

- Sonam Dorji
Sr. Legal Officer Gelephu Thromde Administrationd. Liaison: Consult with other service providers,such as NCWC (National Commission for
Women and Children) PEMA (Pema Centre

Introduction
By profession, I am Sr. Legal Officer in theRoyal Government of Bhutan currently serving
under the Gelephu Thromde (Municipality). It
has been almost two years since I have been
assigned to be the GCFP (Gender and Child
Focal Point) for the Thromde. As a focal point, I
had the privilege and opportunity to attend
various workshops and training on violenceagainst women and children in the country. It has
been an overwhelming experience for me toPema Centre Secretariat; the Centre wasestablished upon the Royal Command of Her
Majesty the Queen of Bhutan to spearhead
Bhutan's national response to mental health)
Secretariat, Royal Bhutan Police, Local
Government Authorities and RENEW/ CBSS
Volunteers.
Self-transformation

understand various issues on women andchildren through such programs and experiences

Self-transformation refers to the process of4

Asian Breeze

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making significant and lasting changes in oneself,

Online Newsletter
Supplementing Socio-psychological supports

often with a goal of personal growth, selfimprovement, or achieving a desired state ofbeing. However, I would like to briefly state what
self-transformation means to me, in terms of therole that I play as a GCFP. There is a feeling of
oneness and inter-linkage with the women andchildren that requires protection and care. I havedeveloped a non-judgmental approach andreckon the challenges of women and children as

With the advancement of science of mind andwonderful services rendered by the counselors, a
handful of survivors and perpetrators, desirous ofhealing from trauma seek my consensus building
mechanism. Thus, I offer to mediate the issues toresolve the conflict amicably to prevent
bitterness amongst the intimate partners. The artof active listening and acknowledging theconcerns raised by both the survivor and theperpetrators is taken into consideration with due
diligence to reach a consensus between theparties.

an essential part of building a healthy community.
I have developed a passion to endure undertrying circumstances and honor to be a part of thesolution. I never consider the role of GCFP as anadditional mandate, rather I take it as anopportunity to serve the community with
empathy. Based on the merit and the exigencies,
I even make myself available during the weekend
as well.

Agent of change
Peace in the community or family is an integral
part of a just and harmonious society. Having
trained on and understood the issues of womenand children, and accepting the frailty of humanbehaviors, it has become my responsibility tofacilitate and drive positive changes by
influencing the attitudes, behaviors, andprocesses of perpetrators. I need to inspire andmotivate people to embrace unity and harmony.
I am willing to explore alternative solutions andthink creatively to address problems. Building

Doing things differently
While all would agree that there are relevant laws
and policies to address the challenges faced by
women and children in Bhutan, there are noprovisions of law that are custom fitted for every
challenge. Hence, I take the common groundapproach to address the issues, as the laws aretrust and credibility of the services that I provide
will make people understand the perspectives
and concerns of those affected by one’s behavior.
It is imperative to demonstrate empathy andactively work to address the emotional aspects ofthe survivors as well as the perpetrators.
Effective communication is essential for thechange to happen. Being change agent also
involves stepping out of comfort zones and being

meant to rescue and provide full support to thesurvivors of DV, children under difficult
circumstances, and children in conflicts withlaws. In doing so, I take calculated risks toprovide services without fundamentallycontravening the provisions of laws. Otherwise,
the delayed assistance and support will further
damage the survivors’ psychological well-being.

open to new experiences.

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Ground reality

future. However, a resolute individual who is

In addressing the issues of women and children,

willing to go beyond the mandates of his or her
profession will make a major impact on thevulnerable sections of the populace.

however, trifle it may appear prima facie, one
may come across the complexity of the issues
after comprehensive assessment of the case.
Hence, engaging with a support system, such as
friends, family, mentors, or professionals
provides guidance. It often requires collaborationand cooperation too. Hence, I keep healthy(REMARK)GCFP (Gender and Children Focal Point)
CBSS (Community Based Support System)
TWCC(Thromde

Women

and

ChildrenCommittee)

interpersonal relationships with relevant service
providers and stakeholders to address the issues
in a comprehensive manner.

PEMA

(PEMA

CentreThe

Centrewasestablished upon the Royal Command of Her
Majesty the Queen of Bhutan to spearhead
Bhutan’s national response to mental health)
RENEW

Walking extra miles with Indigenous values(CSO,

Respect

Educate,Nurture,Empower Women)
NCWC (National Commission for Women and

There is no dearth of inspiration drawn from theChildren)international best practices enshrined in laws,
because Bhutan had ratified two notable
Conventions;
CEDAW (Conventionon
Elimination of all forms of Discrimination
against Women and Convention on Rights ofChild), However, those best practices so
profound in Western settings which we adhere to
may not work in our country due to differencesin socio-cultural values. Hence, with the supportof District and Thromde, we are exploring toinclude representatives of Monastic Body to be
an active member to provide their services toprevent, protect, and care for violence against
women and children.

Conclusion
Given the dynamic nature of the community andhaving a direct impact on relationships and viceversa, the challenges faced by women andchildren will become more complicated in the6Asian Breeze

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My Daily Work- Yeshey Lham
Deputy Chief counselor National Commission for
Women and Children (NCWC)

I am Yeshey Lham, a dedicated and goal-driven
counselor at the National Commission for
Women and Children (NCWC) in Bhutan. As a
Head of the Protection Services, my main
responsibility is to ensure the systematic andcohesive services to protect children and womenknowledge for better service delivery, it is crucial

in difficult circumstances including children inthat the expertise of the GCFPs is strengthened

conflict with law. I have committed to provide

to respond to challenges related to women andappropriate interventions and safe facilitation tochildren.

relevant agencies as per procedures outlined in
the standard operating procedure for gender-

For this very purpose and to build further

based violence prevention and Child Protection,

collaborations

ensuring that the rights of women and children

andpartnerships,

Japan

International Cooperation Agency (JICA) andare protected and promoted through gender

NCWC jointly organized a one-month capacity

responsive interventions and children-sensitive

building programme targeting the GCFPs,

perspectives.

NCWC officials and other relevant stakeholders
on Protection and Care for Women andOf late, I am attached with the ProgrammeChildren.

Division which functions to promote and protect
the rights of women and children includingThis training has helped me enhance mystrengthening of legal, policy, institutional andunderstanding of gender-based and domestic

capacity building besides monitoring women andviolence and its impact on the victims, therefore

children protection services.

myefforts

towork

towards

sustainable

development in terms of inclusiveness has been
The National Commission for Women andboosted. It is also an added advantage to learn theChildren in Bhutan works closely with Gender

best practices of the Japanese legal system,

and Child Focal Points (GCFP) thus playing aorganizational structures that surround women

key role in mainstreaming and addressing genderand children.

and child protection issues at the field level.

JICA’s assignment of this training programme to

Recognizing the need for adequate skills and7

Asian Breeze

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Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW)

my targeted participants. The inclusion ofhas perfect training objectives that suited the

Chairpersons of the Local Government, Officer

Bhutanese context of work requirements. The

in Commanding of the Royal Bhutan Police withtraining modules designed suited the needs of the

GCFPs across the country has guided me toparticipants. The training conducted in two

reflect

batches was indeed a huge investment committed

initiatives that are center of practical operations

by JICA. Nonetheless, the participants havefor women and children with an alertness on thedemonstrated their commitment in performing

importance of relevant legislations, regulations

plans

respective

and efforts to prevent violence against womencommunity with the learning experiences gained

and children. The training in Japan helped me

and witnessed from Japan.

prepareMy recent task to roll out the workshops on

facilitate the roll-out smoothly and confidently.

andprograms

in

their

on the Japan’smypresentations

local

government

effectively

andimplementing the RESPECT Framework toprevent violence against women, in collaboration

Similarly, the module on Initiatives to Preventwith the UN in Bhutan, UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF

Child Abuse by Kitakyshu City and Offenderand UNDP, was an enormous success. ThroughRehabilitation System coupled with other

3-day workshop in two batches, we were able tomodules, have also helped me enhance myreach out to all 20 districts and 4 municipals, inefforts in coordinating and supporting children inequipping not only our GCFP but also key people

conflict with law as well as to emphasize on

from the districts with knowledge and guidance,

rehabilitation and safe reintegration to juvenile

promising practices and share links to resourcesdelinquents especially with girls experiencing

and tools to facilitate scaling up of evidence-

more stigmatization. The enriching lessons haveinformed strategies to prevent violence against

helped in presentation delivery on situations of

women. Each letter of RESPECT stands for one

children in the country to newly selected Districtof seven strategies.

Education Officers and school Principals in 2023

The experiences I gained in Japan made me

and Early Identification and Safe Referral

confident to deliver my sessions during thoseTraining to teachers and Health Workers recently.

training sessions.
The Module titled “Initiatives on Gender

Lastly, on behalf of NCWC, Royal Government

Equality and Kitakyushu City’s, Supportof Bhutan, I convey my humble gratitude to the

System for Women and Children, Structure and

JICA Office for awarding me this opportunity

Programmed on Protection on Women andand express my sincere appreciation to KFAW

Children support system for women andfor organizing excellent training course.

children in Kitakyushu city” are best suited for8Asian Breeze No.99 Online Newsletter(REMARK)NCWC (National Commission for Women and Children)
GCFP (Gender Child Focal Point)
UNFPA (United Nation Population Fund)
WHO (World Health Organization)
UNDP (United Nations Development Programm)

Women’s issues in Bhutan-Lhaden Wangmo
RENEW Project Manager

Bhutan has made progress in enacting laws andformulating policies and regulations on sexualand reproductive health, young people, andgenderequality.

Despitestrongpolitical

commitment and a supportive legal and policy“Competent Authority” in collaboration withframework, Gender-based violence remains an

Civil Society Organizations and relevant partners

issue in Bhutan. The country faces challenges inin implementing the Act.

ensuring the implementation of the policies andI am working as a Project Manager in Respect,laws.

Educate, Nurture, Empower Women (RENEW)

Gender-based violence against women and girls

Organization, and prior to the present position, I

is one of the most significant social issues today

also worked as Sr. Counsellor. It is my privilegewith widespread impacts, including on healthto jot down a few of my personal reflections andand well-being, productivity, and national

what I have experienced working as a service

development. Prevent domestic violence and toprovider to the women and girls in my country.

provide the necessary support for the victims, theToday whatever I share here is based on myDomestic Violence Prevention Act of Bhutan

personal experience and what I have observed on

was enacted in 2013. Since then, many initiatives

my ongoing services at RENEW Organization. I

have been taken by the National Commission forstarted working as an assistant counsellor from

Women and Children (NCWC) as theJanuary 2012 till January 2023. I have personally9Asian Breeze

No.99

Online Newsletter

seen and provided services to more than astakeholders, and our partners across the country

thousand survivors of Domestic violence andto cater the services to every corner of places in

Gender-based violence for many girls andBhutan. RENEW has successfully established 10

women.

Community Service Centres in ten districts to

RENEW is a civil society organization (CSO)

provide services to those in need in theestablished by Her Majesty the Queen Mothercommunity.

Gyalyumto

In 2021 alone we have provided services to 774

empower families affected by domestic violence

cases of DV/GBV by platforms such as socialand Gender-Based Violence, with a special focus

media, Walk-in clients, helpline, and referrals

on vulnerable women and children. RENEW isfrom our volunteers across the country. When it

the first and only CSO of its kind in Bhutan.

comes to the cases we handle, we provide

RENEW initiated several services such asservices to all ranges of different situations,individual, couple, and family counselling, legal

including various forms of abuse such asaid, livelihood skills training, safe house,Economic abuse, physical abuse, Sexual abuse,

medical aid, educational scholarship, case

Emotional abuse, and Non/DV/GBV. Most

management services, and SRH clinic.

Bhutanese women stay in abusive relationships

RENEW works tirelessly to raise awarenessbecause they are dependent on their spouses

about the prevalence and consequences of sucheconomically, fear and safety concerns, lack ofviolence, provide support services to survivors,

support system, emotional attachment and love,

and advocate for policy changes and legal

and cultural and religious factors.

reforms. Due to the RENEW Organization’s

During my tenure, I have come across many

tireless

andwomen and girls who availed our services andsensitization at the community level, the major

made positive changes in their lives such as

outcome it has led to is the increased knowledge

emotional healing and empowerment, access toand understanding of the various forms oflegal support, financial independence, building

gender-based violence, its impact on women's

support networks, and breaking the cycle oflives, and the importance of getting the rightabuse. I feel like it is important to know that

servicestheservices may vary from individual to individual

communities around them have also gained aand not all the survivors will experience the same

deeper understanding of the underlying causes

positive changes. However, the support andand dynamics of violence against women andservices provided by RENEW were instrumental

girls.

in helping women rebuild their lives and move

RENEW also conducts training and capacity-

towards a brighter future.

building

The issues faced by women in Bhutan are

Sangayworkonneeded.

programs

ChodenraisingThe

for

Wangchuckawareness

peopletheandvolunteers,10Asian Breeze

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complex and multi-faceted, requiring ourattention and collective efforts to bring about
positive change. It is evident that despite
progress being made in recent years, there is stillmuch work to be done to achieve gender equality
in Bhutan. it is essential to approachthese issues with optimism and determination.
Bhutan, as a nation known for its commitment
to Gross National Happiness, has the potential
to lead the way in promoting gender equality.
Additionally, it is imperative to engage all
stakeholders, including government entities,
civil society organizations, and individuals, inthe conversation surrounding women's issues.
By raising awareness, challenging stereotypes,
and advocating for change, we can collectively
create an environment where women can thrive
and reach their full potential.

Thank you for reading. Any comments and suggestions are welcome.
Email us!
info@kfaw.or.jp

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