The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen graced an event to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Bhutan Red Cross Society on 8 May 2026.
The Bhutan Red Cross Society was established under the Bhutan Red Cross Society Act 2016 as an autonomous, not-for-profit voluntary organisation, auxiliary to the government in the humanitarian field. Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen oversaw the establishment of BRCS in Bhutan and has since steered the organization as its President.
Since its establishment, BRCS secured recognition as a National Society by the International Committee of the Red Cross and was admitted to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Over the past decade, BRCS has grown into a significant humanitarian force across the country, with close to 7,000 volunteers and members drawn from all dzongkhags. Its work spans disaster management, health, and social services. Among its most visible contributions is the rehabilitation of the Thimphu cremation ground and the support Red Cross volunteers provide to bereaved families. During the Covid-19 pandemic, BRCS was a key resource for the nationwide response, delivering medicines to communities during lockdowns.
In recognition of its services during the Covid-19 pandemic, His Majesty The King conferred the BRCS with the National Order of Merit Gold during the 114th National Day in 2021.
At today’s celebrations, Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen launched the BRCS Development Plan II covering 2026 to 2030, a five-year strategic road map aligned with the government’s 13th Five Year Plan. Her Majesty also launched the BRCS Branch Disaster Response Team programme, which works towards establishing a National Disaster Response Team to international standards, and unveiled the programme’s uniforms. The event also featured a photo exhibition titled United in Humanity, documenting a decade of the Society’s work across the country.
