Bhutanese activists and community organizations have urged the United Nations Development Programme to play a role in supporting peacebuilding and reconciliation in Bhutan. The appeal emerged from discussions at a September 2023 event in New York, where Bhutanese diaspora members and international speakers shared experiences related to displacement, family separation, imprisonment, and the long-term impact of the Bhutanese refugee crisis. The gathering emphasized the importance of dialogue, trust-building, human rights, and inclusive approaches to reconciliation. Dr. Kumar Gurung was among the speakers who spoke about the experiences of Bhutanese citizens who were exiled, imprisoned, or otherwise affected by the events of the late 1980s and early 1990s.