Hidden away in the Himalayas and heavily influenced by its Buddhist origins, law students presented workshops in the Kingdom of Bhutan during a two-week international legal placement.
Seventeen law students partnered with the Bhutan National Legal Institute (BNLI) to present interactive workshops to high school students on emerging legal issues. The workshops covered topics such as; Access to Justice, What is law?, How Laws are Made, Police Powers, Health Law and Environmental Law. “These workshops challenged our ability to communicate across language and cultural differences, including our ability to communicate in Dzongkha which is both Bhutan’s traditional language and the language of their judiciary,” said fourth year Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) student Shania Fernandes.
BNLI is a judicial training institution that also educates the wider community about legal issues, increasing the community's ability access to justice, particularly those from rural areas.
To supplement their teaching, students attended information seminars delivered by key members of Bhutan’s legal system such as the Attorney General, High Court Judges and members of the Police Force, who elaborated on the discrepancies in the application of the rule of law in different parts of the world. In particular, the High Court and Office of the Attorney General discussed the challenges of limited legal representation and developing legal aid.
Students also met with the Princess of Bhutan and visited culturally significant sites, including Paro Taktsang (Tiger’s Nest Monastery) and Punakha Dzong. Students were honoured to visit the Monastery as it is very sacred to the people of Bhutan. Field visits to the Dzongs, Monasteries, Buddha Point and various legal institutions provided further insight into the Buddhist influence as well as the spiritual and cultural principles that form the basis of how Bhutan’s legal system operates.
Bhutan’s commitment to sustainability and remaining carbon-negative has resulted in a daily tariff for tourists in order to limit the number of international visitors. The government-enforced tariffs are considerable to ensure that tourism in Bhutan is approached in an environmentally responsible way; however, this can make it unaffordable for many.
“As guests of BNLI, this placement really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to visit a country that we may never have otherwise been able to due to financial limitations,” said fifth year Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) student Hannah Plater.
“Participating in this program allowed us to meet people from diverse backgrounds, gain intercultural communication skills, and form lifelong connections with our peers and Bhutanese colleagues. The skills we learnt will be invaluable in our future legal careers, where intercultural awareness and flexibility are essential skills,” said Shania.
Find out more about QUT's law and justice international experiences.