
Oman participates in 69th session of Commission on Status of Women
New York: The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), held in New York during the period from 10 to 21 March 2025.
The session focuses on reviewing and appraising the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Oman's delegation in the session is headed by Dr. Laila Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development.
During the CSW69 a side event was held under the title 'Women and Technology: Inspiring Stories in the GCC Countries'. During this event the Minister of Social Development delivered Oman's speech.
In the Speech, Al Najjar affirmed that the Sultanate of Oman has been keen on raising the efficiency of the infrastructure in educational and vocational institutions, by developing facilities and allocating digital laboratories suitable for all technological requirements.
She also emphasised the importance of aligning specialisations with the requirements of the labour market, and providing economic sectors with qualified and trained national cadres in various advanced scientific and technological fields.
The Minister of Social Development pointed out that statistics indicate an increase in female enrollment rates in the field of "science and technology" for the academic year 2024/2025.
Al Najjar added that the Sultanate of Oman is keen to provide an attractive environment to support scientific innovations for Omani women, which contributes to enhancing their position and achieving many accomplishments at the regional and international levels.
Moreover, during the CSW69 the Minister of Social Development, head of Oman's delegation in the high-level interactive dialogue with regional committees, delivered Oman's speech on 'Muscat Declaration on Progress in Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in the Arab Region after Thirty Years.'
During this speech, the Minister of Social Development stressed that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action present several strategic options and paths to advance the status of women and girls, enhance their rights and empower them.
In her speech, the Minister condemned the continued Israeli aggression on the occupied Palestinian territories, and the unprecedented violations of international law and international humanitarian law. These violations include war crimes, crimes against humanity, including torture and genocide.
She also stressed the need to respect international resolutions related to the Palestinian situation and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the illegal status of the occupation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Al Najjar also condemned the systematic violence against civilians in Sudan, especially women and girls who are subjected to serious violations that include multiple forms of violence. She added that crises, conflicts and wars that some countries in the region are suffering from also affect neighboring countries and the rest of the region. In such situations, women suffer from forced displacement and migration, as well as deprivation of basic services, including health, education and security.
Hashtags

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


Observer
12 hours ago
- Observer
Oman welcomes Palestine as ILO's Observer State
GENEVA: The Sultanate of Oman expressed its full support for the decision made by the International Labour Conference to upgrade Palestine's membership from a national liberation movement to a "non-member observer state" within the organisation. This step is based on legal and institutional considerations consistent with the principles of international justice, equitable representation and fair participation in multilateral organisations. Khalid bin Salim al Ghammari, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Labour for Labour, delivered a speech at the conference, affirming that the State of Palestine has consistently engaged in active and responsible participation in the organisation's work. He emphasised that Palestine has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to international labour standards and has cooperated constructively with the ILO's various mechanisms. Despite the exceptional challenges it faces, granting Palestine "observer member" status will enhance its ability to convey the realities of Palestinian workers and defend their rights through official and institutional channels, Al Ghammari noted. He stated that this decision is a technical measure that strengthens the ILO's efficiency and inclusivity, reflecting its commitment to enabling all relevant parties to contribute to achieving decent work goals and promoting fundamental labour rights, in line with the spirit of international conventions and the organisation's founding principles. He added that voting in favour of the resolution reaffirms the importance of multilateralism, inclusive engagement, and ensuring representation for all peoples in international organisations. It also reinforces the ILO's role as a platform for dialogue and understanding, upholding its foundational principles away from political tensions or narrow interests. During its 113th session last week, the International Labour Conference, at the high-level ministerial meeting in Geneva, adopted the resolution with 386 votes in favour, 15 against and 42 abstentions. The 113th session of the International Labour Conference began last Monday, with the participation of tripartite delegations representing over 187 ILO member states, including governments, employers and workers. — ONA


Observer
12 hours ago
- Observer
Thai, Cambodian forces to resume previous positions on border
BANGKOK: Thailand and Cambodian forces will return to their previously agreed positions, Thai Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said, following talks on Sunday, after both reinforced their military presence in response to a deadly clash last month. For days, the two governments have exchanged statements, saying they were committed to finding a peaceful resolution after a Cambodian soldier was killed during a clash on May 28 in an undemarcated border area. On Saturday, the two countries had both reinforced their military presence, but Phumtham said in a statement on Sunday both sides would revert to positions agreed in 2024. He also said both sides hoped the border issue could be fully resolved through a meeting of the Joint Boundary Committee, set up to allow bilateral negotiations, on June 14. Cambodia did not immediately comment following the statement from Phumtham. Earlier on Sunday, Thailand shortened operating hours at 10 border crossings with Cambodia, citing security concerns. Checkpoints, including the busiest in Thailand's eastern province of Sa Kaeo, halved operating hours to 8 am (0100 GMT) to 4 pm local time, from 6 am to 10 pm, previously, Thai Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told reporters. Thailand operates 17 official border crossings with Cambodia, spanning seven provinces along their shared 817-km (508 miles) frontier, government data shows. Cambodia's Foreign Ministry reiterated a request to bring the border disputes to the International Court of Justice in a letter to Thai officials on June 6. "Given the complexity, historical nature and sensitivity of these disputes, it is increasingly evident that bilateral dialogue alone may no longer suffice to bring about a comprehensive and lasting solution," Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said in the note shared with reporters on Sunday. "A decision rendered by the ICJ, grounded in international law, would offer a fair, impartial, and durable resolution," he said. The Thai government has said it does not recognise the court's jurisdiction and proposed that all boundary-related issues be resolved through bilateral negotiations. Thailand and Cambodia have for more than a century contested sovereignty at undemarcated points along their shared border. Tension escalated in 2008 over an 11th-century Hindu temple, leading to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths, including during a week-long exchange of artillery in 2011. Both governments have enjoyed warm ties, from a close friendship between former leaders, Thaksin Shinawatra from Thailand and Cambodia's Hun Sen. Thaksin's daughter and Hun Sen's son are the incumbent prime ministers of their countries. — Reuters


Observer
12 hours ago
- Observer
Thousands march in Rome to protest 'complicity' on Gaza war
ROME: Hundreds of thousands of people marched through the streets of Rome to protest the war in Gaza, in a rally called by opposition parties denouncing the government's alleged "complicity" in the conflict. "Stop the massacre, stop complicity!" read a wide banner held by protesters at the start of the march, amid a sea of red, white and green Palestinian flags, peace flags and "Free Palestine" signs. The peaceful protest attracted a massive crowd estimated by organisers at 300,000 people. Police later said those estimates were "largely confirmed", according to Italian news agency AGI. It made its way from Rome's central Piazza Vittorio to San Giovanni, where speakers took to a stage to urge an end to the violence and denounce what some called the silence of the far-right Italian government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, Elly Schlein, called the turnout "an enormous popular response" in opposition to the war. Italy's Five Star Movement and the Greens-Left Alliance were also behind the protest. The demonstration was "to say enough to the massacre of Palestinians, to say enough to the crimes of Netanyahu's far-right government" and to show the world "another Italy", Schlein told journalists. "An Italy that does not keep silent as the Meloni government does, an Italy that instead wants peace, wants an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, humanitarian aid, and wants recognition of the state of Palestine," she said. Former prime minister Giuseppe Conte told the crowd he was there "to not be a partner to genocide" and rejected any accusation of antisemitism on the part of protesters. Israel has come under increasing international criticism over the dire humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory, where the United Nations warned in May that the entire population was at risk of famine. In Italy, Meloni has been pushed by the opposition to condemn the actions of Israel's leader Benjamin Netanyahu in Gaza, but her criticism has been tempered. Last month, Meloni called the humanitarian situation "increasingly dramatic and unjustifiable" and said she had had "often difficult conversations" with Netanyahu, while at the same time noting that "it was not Israel that started the hostilities". People carry relief supplies from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), in Gaza. — AFP Many protesters came from across Italy to participate in the demonstration, including Gabriella Branca, a lawyer from Genoa. "It's unbearable to witness the massacre of 60,000 people, including 20,000 children. We have to say enough," the 67-year-old said. "In other countries, as you know, demonstrations have drawn millions of people, so I hope that today in Rome we can send a signal to all of Italy, so that everyone takes to the streets to say enough and above all, to try to find peace," she said. Meanwhile in Gaza, civil defence agency said Israeli attacks on Sunday killed at least 10 people including two girls in the Palestinian territory, as the Israel-Hamas war entered its 21st month. "Five martyrs and dozens of wounded were taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis after the (Israeli) occupation forces opened fire on civilians at around 6:00 am," agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said. The civilians had been heading to an aid distribution centre west of Rafah, near a site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-backed group that has come under criticism from the United Nations and humanitarian agencies. The United Nations refuses to work with the GHF, citing concerns over its practices and neutrality. Asked to comment on the latest killings, the Israeli military said it fired on people who "continued advancing in a way that endangered the soldiers" despite warnings. It said the area around the distribution point had been declared an "active combat zone" at night. "Around 4:30 am, people started gathering in the Al Alam area of Rafah. After about an hour and a half, hundreds moved towards the site and the army opened fire," Abdullah Nour al Din said. Outside the Nasser hospital, where the emergency workers brought the casualties, AFPTV footage showed mourners crying over blood-stained body-bags. Dozens of people have been killed near distribution points since late May, according to the civil defence. Bassal said another five people, including two young girls, were killed around at 1:00 am in a strike that hit a tent in the Al Mawasi in southern Gaza. — AFP