Latest news with #LailaAhmedAlNajjar
Times of Oman
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Oman empowers women in scientific innovation
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women in science, technology, and human rights during its participation in the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, being held from 10 to 21 March 2025. Leading Oman's delegation, Dr. Laila Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development, emphasised the nation's dedication to creating an enabling environment that supports scientific innovation among Omani women. 'Oman is keen to provide an attractive ecosystem for women's scientific and technological advancements, strengthening their position and enabling them to achieve significant milestones regionally and internationally,' she said. Speaking at the side event, 'Women and Technology: Inspiring Stories in the GCC Countries,' Al Najjar highlighted Oman's efforts in advancing educational and vocational infrastructure to align with labour market demands. She pointed out that the country has developed modern facilities, including digital laboratories, to cater to technological requirements, ensuring that women are well-equipped for roles in emerging scientific fields. Notably, she cited an increase in female enrollment rates in science and technology disciplines for the academic year 2024/2025 as a testament to these efforts. Oman's presence at CSW69 extended to the high-level interactive dialogue with regional committees, where Al Najjar delivered a speech on the 'Muscat Declaration on Progress in Implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in the Arab Region after Thirty Years.' She underscored that the 'Beijing Declaration' offers strategic pathways for strengthening women's rights and fostering their empowerment globally. On the international stage, Al Najjar strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression in the occupied Palestinian territories, denouncing grave violations of international law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. She stressed the need for adherence to international resolutions and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the occupation's illegal status. She also raised concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, particularly the escalating violence against women and girls. She emphasised that regional conflicts and crises lead to forced displacement, deprivation of fundamental services, and increased insecurity, disproportionately affecting women. Oman's participation at CSW69 highlights its unwavering commitment to advocating for women's empowerment, both within the Sultanate and on the global stage, ensuring that issues impacting women remain at the forefront of international dialogue.
Times of Oman
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
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.
Times of Oman
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Arab Women's Committee discusses empowerment
Muscat: Represented by the Ministry of Social Development, the Sultanate of Oman on Tuesday participated via video conferencing in the 44th session of the Arab Women's Committee at the Arab League. Oman's delegation was headed by Dr. Laila Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development. The meeting made a follow-up of the Arab Women's Development Agenda (2023-2028) and the Agenda of Women, Security and Peace, as well as the economic and social empowerment of women in the Arab region. The meeting also looked into cooperation with international and regional bodies, in addition to bilateral cooperation in the field of women's empowerment. Reading out Oman's speech, Dr. Laila said that, during its presidency of the 43rd session of the Arab Women's Committee, Oman focussed on enhancing institutional integration towards the launch and implementation of initiatives and programmes that consolidate the role of women in the field of innovation, based on the 'Declaration of Muscat as the capital of Arab women 2024'. Yesterday (17 February 2025), Oman participated via video conferencing in the Arab preparatory meeting for the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). During the meeting, Oman affirmed its commitment to the provisions of agreements on human rights, including provisions on dignity for all human beings and provisions on women's right to a safe life.
Times of Oman
10-02-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Social ministry celebrates graduation of 60 people with disabilities
Muscat: The Ministry of Social Development on Monday held a ceremony to celebrate the graduation of 60 people with disabilities who comprised the second batch of a training programme carried out in implementation of an initiative themed 'Be with Us for Them'. The ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr. Laila Ahmed Al Najjar, Minister of Social Development, who delivered a statement in which she valued the role and contribution of the private sector, companies and government institutions that took the initiative, aimed to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities after they complete the training programme. The initiative included training on customer service, office management, document printing and copying and electronic archiving. The initiative included training and rehabilitation for handicapped people afflicted with mental, motor and hearing disabilities. Twenty-one of the disabled received training at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in the Wilayat of Sohar in the Governorate of North Al Batinah, while 39 of them received training at Mohammed Al Barwani Training Institute in Al Athaiba, Governorate of Muscat. The initiative, which stems from partnership between the Ministry of Social Development and the Specialized Human Development Centre, constitutes a step forward in the realization of the goals of Oman Vision 2040. The initiative focuses on engaging the main sectors in Oman to shoulder efforts of social responsibility, empower people with disabilities and utilize innovative ideas of human resources in general. The initiative ('Be with Us for Them') began in September 2022. It has so far generated 57 direct employment opportunities for the disabled and offered on-the-job training for the segment through the participation of 13 private sector establishments. The initiative envisages the occupational empowerment of 500 disabled people by 2027.
