Project MEDUSA: Mitigating Exploitation, Defending the Unprotected, and Stopping Abuse
Thimphu & Paro, Bhutan | Project MEDUSA - Social Justice Initiative (SJI) | 2025
Kuzuzangpo la!
We are the Social Justice Initiative (SJI), a group of 35 trained law students at JSW School of Law, fighting to break the silence around Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH) in Bhutan. In 2025, we launched Project MEDUSA to tackle misconceptions, stigma, and victim blaming through a survivor-centered, rights-based approach that blends storytelling, law, and youth engagement.
The Right-Sized Problem
Despite progressive laws like the Child Care and Protection Act 2011 and Penal Code of Bhutan 2004, there exists a critical gap in legal literacy among young people in Bhutan. Many youth do not understand their legal protections against SEAH, and a harmful culture of victim blaming persists, silencing survivors and preventing justice. Without awareness and support systems, vulnerable young people (particularly girls) remain at risk.
What We Did
Over seven months, we combined legal education, digital advocacy, and creative engagement to reach thousands of young people across Bhutan with PSEAH awareness.
Offline Impact
Training of Trainers: Equipped 34 club members as peer educators through comprehensive PSEAH training using UN and Save the Children resources
PSEAH Advocacy Sessions: Conducted interactive sessions at 4 schools and youth centre, engaging 217 students and youth volunteers in legal literacy
Nationwide Online Advocacy: Hosted two virtual sessions reaching 2,133 law club members across 53 schools in 15 (out of 20 total) districts of Bhutan, building capacity on PSEAH and legal protections in partnership with Bhutan National Legal Institute.
Online & Media Impact
"Consent is Law" TikTok Challenge: Launched a creative video competition promoting awareness on consent, dignity, and respect, receiving 9 entries that garnered over 57,000 views across TikTok.
"I Am a Survivor of SEAH" Padlet -- Created a safe digital space for survivors and allies to share uplifting, heartfelt messages of solidarity, empowerment, and support—launched on International Youth Day.
📢 Explore Our Campaign Content:
🔗PSEAH Advocacy Session
🔗Nationwide Online Advocacy
🔗TikTok Campaign
Campaign Impact
2,381 young people educated on PSEAH and victim blaming through advocacy sessions.
2,133 law club members across 53 schools in 15 districts trained on legal protections against SEAH.
248 adults engaged during campaign activities to bridge generational gaps.
57,000+ views generated through TikTok awareness competition, normalizing conversations on consent.
Strengthened partnerships with Bhutan National Legal Institute and Jigme Singye Wangchuk School of Law, securing ongoing technical support.
90%+ of SJI members trained in PSEAH using UN-approved materials, building ethical advocacy capacity.
One of our greatest successes was the nationwide online advocacy conducted in partnership with Bhutan National Legal Institute. By reaching law club members across all 15 districts, we demonstrated that digital platforms can effectively deliver legal education and normalize conversations around SEAH while maintaining survivor dignity and safety. Students shared that they had learned critical life skills beyond their textbooks, and teachers expressed appreciation for the timely, youth-friendly approach to such sensitive topics.
The became an unexpected success, providing a confidential space for survivors and allies to express solidarity without requiring disclosure of personal trauma. This initiative showed that thoughtfully designed digital tools can promote healing and empowerment while upholding the core principles of PSEAH advocacy.
Follow our journey:
This story was lovingly curated by the SHIFT team with the help of Claude (Anthropic) based on submitted source materials from our Fun Adults and Shifters.
