
National campaign to combat human trafficking launched
The commemoration of this day comes within the framework of ongoing national efforts to combat human trafficking, which align with the pillars of Oman Vision 2040, particularly about the human and community axis, by consolidating the values of justice and fairness, strengthening the social protection system, and enshrining the principles of the rule of law.
The launch was held in the presence of Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali al Harthy, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs and Chairman of the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking.
In his speech on behalf of the National Committee, Dr. Ahmed bin Taleb Al Jabri, Assistant Public Prosecutor and Deputy Chairman of the National Committee, emphasized that the campaign is not merely limited to media, but rather a sincere call to protecting human beings and their rights as per n international and national protocals.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Observer
an hour ago
- Observer
Over 1,000 human rights cases received in 2024
MUSCAT, AUG 11 Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) received and documented a total of 1,006 cases in 2024, including 47 complaints and 22 reports, while 937 cases were provided with legal support. These cases spanned various civil, political, economic, social, cultural, environmental and developmental rights, as well as the rights of vulnerable groups. This was revealed during a press conference held on Monday by Oman Human Rights Commission, which highlighted its key efforts in 2024, including monitoring and receiving complaints, responding to regional and international reports, and organising internal and external activities. Addressing the media on Monday, Dr Rashid bin Hamad al Balushi, Chairman of Oman Human Rights Commission, said that the commission continues its national role in protecting and promoting human rights, guided by its mandate and the principles enshrined in the Basic Law of the State and international conventions to which Oman is a signatory. He affirmed the commission's commitment to enhancing its operational mechanisms and strengthening its role as an independent national institution dedicated to fostering a culture of human rights, citizenship, justice and human dignity in Oman. Dr Al Balushi said that the commission's vision is to serve as an effective national platform supporting and protecting human rights across all segments of society and institutions. Its mission is to instil a human rights culture, promote its practice and safeguard these rights in accordance with local and international laws and principles. He expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Royal Oman Police in upholding human rights, particularly in services provided to inmates and detainees. During field visits to the central prison, the commission verified that health, educational, legal, sports, training, recreational and hobby-related services met appropriate standards. During the media conference, he discussed the National Human Rights Strategy and monitoring its implementation with all relevant human rights bodies. Developing the strategy requires establishing a comprehensive framework that promotes and protects human rights in the Sultanate of Oman, in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law of the State, the international conventions and agreements to which Oman has acceded, and applicable laws, as this is the ultimate goal of the Omani Human Rights Commission. During the current year, the committee, as part of the strategy project, organised workshops to analyse the current status of the strategy. These workshops covered a range of fundamental rights, including civil and political rights, economic and social rights, environmental and cultural rights and the freedom to participate in public life. They also focused on vulnerable groups, such as women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities. The strategy project aligns with the national directives of Oman Vision 2040. Direct coordination was undertaken with the Vision Implementation Follow-up Unit and the Ministry of Economy to ensure the alignment of the strategy with comprehensive development plans. The chairman confirmed that the committee is studying reports and communicating with relevant authorities to address them according to mechanisms that ensure an effective and rapid response. The committee also held a celebration on the occasion of International Human Rights Day under the theme "Pillar of the Nation: Sustainable Steps to Protect and Promote the Rights of Older Persons." The celebration focused on appreciating the role of older persons and their contributions to building society, highlighting Oman's efforts to protect their rights, ensuring their access to necessary services, and enhancing their social standing through legislation and laws that protect them from neglect or abuse. The celebration also aimed to raise community awareness about the rights of older persons and ensure their active participation in various aspects of life. In a statement to the Observer on the progress made by the committee in caring for the elderly in foster families, Dr Rashid said: "Regarding the rights of the elderly in the Sultanate of Oman, the committee visited the elderly centre in the Wilayat of Al Rustaq and organised a special symposium on the services provided to the elderly in which issued a set of recommendations. Oman is distinguished by its policies that preserve the social fabric, and fostering families are one of the measures that preserve society's cohesion and social integrity." Furthermore, the committee conducted a number of field visits to the Central Prison and the detention departments of the Royal Oman Police to assess the services provided to inmates and detainees and ensure that they are provided in accordance with a level befitting human dignity. Within the framework of the 2024 amnesty for inmates, a number of Royal orders were issued ordering the release of a group of inmates from the Central Prison convicted in various cases. The total number of inmates included in the Royal amnesty reached approximately 704 inmates, both citizens and residents. In the area of freedom of expression, the committee noted that Oman has advanced 18 places in the 2024 Press Freedom Index, issued by Reporters Without Borders, compared to 2023. This index assesses 180 countries annually and uses five criteria to assess press freedom, including the political context, the legal framework, the economic context, the social and cultural context and safety. While for the healthcare field, the committee also held several field meetings with institutions working in the field of the right to healthcare, including the Royal Hospital and Khoula Hospital, to discuss challenges and opportunities in improving the quality of services and ensuring accessibility for all, especially persons with disabilities. It also conducted a field visit to the Duqm Industrial Zone, examining the services and labour care provided to workers in the Duqm Special Economic Zone. It examined adherence to protection standards and a suitable work environment, and the general compliance of the facilities used with occupational safety and health measures and international standards for workers' housing. The committee fulfilled its role in protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. It monitored and studied warning signs for the blind in public places. The committee submitted the results of the study to Muscat Municipality and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, and received a response from Muscat Municipality stating that the study would be taken into account and included in the municipality's future projects. The committee also received a response from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning stating that special standards would be included within the national urban planning standards contained in the outcomes of the National Urban Development Strategy. The study will also be included in the building requirements and specifications guide in the Sultanate of Oman. In the international area, OHRC expressed its observations on the US annual report on the human rights situation in the Sultanate of Oman for 2023. The report addressed a number of issues. The report aimed to verify the topics and reports received and provide the commission's observations on them in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in the Sultanate of Oman, as well as the mechanisms and methods followed by the commission in this regard. Also, it responded to a newspaper article in BBC Africa Eye titled "How a Malawian WhatsApp group helped rescue women trafficked to Oman." The report included cases of more than 50 Malawian women who were trafficked to the Sultanate of Oman to work under conditions resembling slavery. Dr Al Balushi stated that the commission responded to several international governmental and non-governmental reports, including Amnesty International's 2022/2023 Annual Report on human rights in Oman, the US State Department's 2023 Annual Report on human rights in Oman, and its 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, which assessed Oman's anti-trafficking efforts in 2022. The OHRC is committed to preparing a parallel report submitted to the Arab Charter on Human Rights Committee, following the methodology followed in preparing reports for both the Omani Human Rights Commission and the Arab Charter on Human Rights Committee. In preparing this report, a consultative approach was followed with relevant civil society institutions, stakeholders and partner organisations. During the months of October and November 2024, the Committee met with five civil society institutions related to the topics of the report, namely: the Omani Women's Association, Muscat, the Omani Journalists Association, the General Federation of Oman Workers, the Children First Association, and the Omani Association for Persons with Disabilities.


Muscat Daily
18 hours ago
- Muscat Daily
Over 1,000 human rights cases handled in Oman in 2024: OHRC
Muscat – Oman Human Rights Commission received and handled 1,006 human rights cases in 2024, covering civil, political, economic, social, cultural and developmental rights, according to Rashid bin Hamad al Balushi, Chairman of OHRC. Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, Balushi said the commission's mandate under Royal Decree No 57/2022 is to protect and promote human rights in line with Oman's Basic Statute and international treaties. 'OHRC continues its national role by receiving complaints, conducting field visits, organising awareness lectures and engaging with international reports on Oman's human rights situation,' he said. OHRC reviewed 47 complaints and monitored 22 cases while providing legal support in 937 cases. It conducted field visits to the central prison and detention centres to assess inmates' conditions and ensure compliance with national and international standards. Visits also covered social, health and educational institutions. Balushi noted the commission's satisfaction with Royal Oman Police's efforts to respect human dignity in prisons, citing improvements in healthcare, education, legal aid, sports and recreation for inmates. Rashid bin Hamad al Balushi, Chairman of Oman Human Rights Commission In the context of freedom of expression, Oman advanced 18 places in the 2024 Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, which assesses political, legal, economic, socio-cultural and safety factors in 180 countries. The commission has actively promoted awareness through lectures targeting schools, universities, public and private employees, and security personnel. Topics covered included children's rights, women's rights, workers' rights, freedom of expression and complaint mechanisms. Balushi stressed the importance of aligning these efforts with Oman Vision 2040 to foster citizenship and respect for rights within society. On disability rights, the commission conducted a studied 'Warning signs for the Blind in Public Places' and submitted findings to Muscat Municipality and Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning. Both committed to incorporating standards in urban development plans and building codes. A major ongoing project is the development of National Human Rights Strategy in coordination with Oman Vision 2040 authorities. The strategy includes legislative reforms, awareness campaigns, partnerships, protection mechanisms and use of technology. Workshops involving local and international experts are reviewing various rights and priority groups, such as women, children, elderly and persons with disabilities. OHRC also responded to rights reports from Amnesty International, the US State Department and Special Rapporteurs. Balushi said the commission verified observations and provided responses based on Oman's laws and international standards.


Observer
2 days ago
- Observer
Transformation and Sustainable Leadership forum kicks off in Salalah
SALALAH, AUG 10 The Government Transformation and Sustainable Leadership Conference commenced in Salalah yesterday under the auspices of Shaikh Salim Mustahail Al-Mashani, Advisor at the Royal Court Affairs. The three-day conference, held as part of the 2025 Labour Forum organized by the Ministry of Labour, is attracted broad participation from experts and specialists from within the Sultanate of Oman and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The conference programme includes a number of panel discussions and workshops focusing on key issues related to labour market transformations and future skills. The first session, entitled Modern Organizational Structures: From Bureaucracy to Institutional Agility, featured working papers addressing: institutional challenges in administrative bodies, tools for organizational restructuring, re-engineering of procedures, in addition to case studies from certain countries. Over the coming days, the conference will feature several sessions on behavioral engineering, governmental leadership, competencies and talent empowerment, smart management, in addition to a number of international experiences. The conference aims to stimulate innovation and professional development, and to showcase the latest modern technologies and innovations in the labour market to increase productivity, open new horizons, enhance social dialogue, and foster professional communication to create constructive cooperation among specialists and those interested in the labour market. This is in order to create a decent work environment and improve regulatory labour policies, thereby enhancing the labour market's regulatory framework in line with economic, technological, and social developments, as well as to promote international and regional cooperation by expanding partnerships with international and regional counterparts to exchange experiences, practices, and knowledge. During his opening speech, Nasser Salem Al Hadhrami, Director General of Labour in Dhofar Governorate, stated: 'At the Ministry of Labour, and in light of Oman Vision 2040, we believe that change begins from within. We have worked to build an integrated system of innovation and empowerment. We have launched qualitative initiatives that are not merely programs, but rather investments in people – to build a generation of leaders capable of steering transformation. Over the past years, we have developed numerous policies and digital platforms, as well as leadership and capacity-building programs. We have launched pioneering projects that support results-based work and strengthen our partnerships with the private and academic sectors.' The opening also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between the Directorate General of Labour in Dhofar Governorate and Salalah Port Services Company, in pursuit of cooperation and partnership between the public and private sectors, and in recognition of the strategic role played by the Ministry of Labour in developing the human resources sector in the State's administrative apparatus and supporting employment in the private sector.