Latest news with #MinistryofSocialDevelopment
Observer
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Observer
Session discusses women's leadership empowerment
MUSCAT: A dialogue session titled "Women's Leadership Empowerment in Decision-Making Positions", was organised by the Ministry of Social Development in Muscat. The session discussed enhancing societal awareness on the importance of women's participation in electoral councils and highlighting their role in decision-making processes. The session, which included 70 women members of the State Council, Majlis Ash'shura, municipal councils, government institutions and Omani Women's Associations, aimed to motivate female leaders to participate effectively and confidently in electoral councils. It also addressed the legal, economic, intellectual and media enablers for women, alongside reviewing the role of civil society institutions in empowering Omani women and supporting their participation. The first session, titled "Strategies and Success Enablers", covered knowledge empowerment and capacity-building for women in leadership and strategic communication, women's empowerment in the private sector and their pioneering roles, as well as the legal and legislative frameworks supporting their participation in electoral councils and the associated challenges. The second session, titled "The Role of Civil Society Institutions and Media in Promoting Women's Participation in Electoral Councils", analysed the experience of Omani women in the Majlis Ash'shura and emphasised the role of civil society institutions and Omani Women's Associations in raising societal awareness of women's participation in the electoral process. The session also reviewed "The Parliamentary Experience in Childhood and Its Role in Leadership Empowerment." It is worth noting that the session aligns with the ministry's efforts to strengthen women's presence and provide a supportive environment that enables them to contribute effectively to development pathways and decision-making. - ONA
Observer
7 hours ago
- Business
- Observer
World Down Syndrome Day marked
SUHAR: The Ministry of Social Development, in collaboration with the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn), on Monday celebrated World Down Syndrome Day under the slogan "A Smile on the Faces of People with Disabilities." The event, organised by the General Directorate of Social Development in Al Batinah North, was held under the auspices of Shaikh Rashid bin Ahmed al Shamsi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Social Development. Amani al Amri, head of the event committee from Sohar Industrial City, emphasised the integrated efforts between government and private institutions in supporting people with disabilities, recognising their capabilities and promoting their inclusion in society. She added that such events provide an opportunity to connect with them and help them integrate into society as active contributors. The ceremony witnessed the signing of employment contracts for a number of people with disabilities in Al Batinah North Governorate, coordinated with the General Directorate of Labour in the governorate. The contracts were with several companies in Sohar Industrial City. Ahmed bin Salem al Hajri, Director-General of Labour in Al Batinah North, confirmed that 43 job-seekers with disabilities have been employed since the beginning of the year. - ONA
Observer
2 days ago
- Politics
- Observer
Oman at persons with disabilities programme in US
NEW YORK: The Sultanate of Oman participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for Persons with Disabilities in New York City, USA. The Sultanate of Oman's participation comes in confirmation of its commitment to supporting the rights of persons with disabilities and enhancing their capabilities. The participation brought together a group of leaders and practitioners in the field of disability representing several institutions, including the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, and the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs, as well as a number of persons with disabilities. It aimed to learn about the American experience in providing programmes and services for persons with disabilities, exchange ideas and experiences, and learn about policies and legislation in place to promote the rights of this group. It also aimed to raise awareness and exchange knowledge between Omani experts and their international counterparts in this field. The programme included a series of workshops and dialogue sessions with experts specialising in the affairs of persons with disabilities, providing participants with the opportunity to develop practical strategies to improve the quality of life for this group in their communities. — ONA
Muscat Daily
6 days ago
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
New architects association to inspire design innovation in Oman
Muscat – Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) has formally established Oman Architects Association, designating it as the country's primary professional body for architecture. The move follows Ministerial Decision No 170/2025 issued by H E Dr Laila bint Ahmed bin Awad al Najjar, Minister of Social Development, on May 22. The association is expected to play a central role in advancing the quality of architecture, urban planning, construction and public spaces in Oman. Its objectives include improving professional standards and ethics, guiding architectural practice, and encouraging innovation in design and related disciplines. It will also support architectural education, particularly among youth, and align academic programmes with national priorities and international benchmarks. In addition, the association aims to contribute to the development of regulatory frameworks governing architecture and urban development. To promote international cooperation, the association will work to connect Omani architects with counterparts abroad and facilitate their participation in global forums. Members will also have access to lectures, workshops and other professional development resources. Oman Architects Association will be governed by a ten-member board of directors, with each member serving a renewable two-year term. Membership requirements and election processes will be defined in its bylaws. Funding will be drawn from membership fees, authorised donations, revenue from its activities, government support and other sources approved by MoSD. Formation of the association marks a step towards professionalising the country's architectural sector, with a broader aim to support innovation and sustainable development in line with national and regional aspirations.
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Beyond the pool: rethinking disability aid
Is New Zealand's approach to supporting the disabled actually solving anything, Graham Redding asks. In a time of deepening inequality, a Gospel story from John 5 offers a necessary reflection for Aotearoa. Jesus encounters a man who has waited 38 years by the pool of Bethesda — a place believed to offer healing. But healing, here, is conditional: only the quickest, strongest, or most fortunate are helped. "I have no-one to help me," the man tells Jesus. "Someone else always gets there ahead of me." Jesus does not wait for the waters to stir or for institutional permission. He simply says: "Get up. Pick up your mat and walk." The man is restored — not just physically, but socially. He is no longer invisible. This story is often treated as a healing miracle. But it is more than that. It is a critique of systems that neglect the vulnerable. The pool becomes a symbol of exclusion, where only a few benefit, and many are left waiting. In 2022, the creation of Whaikaha — the Ministry of Disabled People — was welcomed as a breakthrough response to long-standing fragmentation. Disabled people had been shuffled between agencies, often receiving inconsistent and inadequate support. Whaikaha promised a new era — one focused on human dignity rather than bureaucratic boundaries. But in 2024, the government announced a restructuring. Whaikaha was stripped of its service delivery role, which was transferred to the Ministry of Social Development. The rollout of Enabling Good Lives — a programme promoting greater choice and control — was put on hold. Cost and efficiency were cited. But the consequences have been stark. Early this year, the New Zealand Medical Journal warned that these changes, alongside budget cuts and funding freezes, were harming disabled people and their families. Residential care was scaled back. In-home support became harder to access. Families and carers were under pressure, and mental distress was rising. The May 2024 "A Thousand Cuts" report from the Fairer Future Coalition documented the cumulative impact of recent government policies — from the return of prescription fees and higher transport costs, to changes in welfare and education. It estimated that families with a disabled member now face up to $5500 more in annual costs. This is not just a policy failure. It is a moral one. In response, the May 2025 Budget committed $1.1 billion over five years to stabilise disability support services. This investment is widely welcomed. The government says it will help ensure access to essential equipment, services, and support for those in need. But it comes with caveats. Whaikaha will now focus solely on advocacy, while the Ministry of Social Development oversees delivery. Some see this as a pragmatic division of roles. Others worry it further marginalises the voices of disabled people from decisions that affect them. Meanwhile, services like Enabling Good Lives are operating under tighter budgets, and residential care funding remains frozen. So, while the investment signals a welcome shift, it does not yet signify transformation. At best, it may stabilise a strained system. This raises an unsettling question: are we merely managing a crisis, or working towards justice? Theologically, Jesus' action at Bethesda disrupts the logic of worth. The man is not asked to prove his eligibility or moral standing. He is seen, addressed, and restored. This act affirms that dignity is not earned by productivity or independence, but by being known and included. Yet in Aotearoa, support too often remains conditional — on diagnosis, funding, and the ability to navigate complex systems. Needs are rationed. Voices go unheard. People feel invisible. Disability theology calls us to see differently. The Gospel challenges us to move beyond transactional care towards communities grounded in justice and relationship. It asks: who still lies by the pool? Who is passed over? Who is told to wait? Real healing requires more than medical intervention. It demands systemic change. It calls for policies that prioritise dignity over dollars and inclusion over convenience. It urges us to see disabled people not as burdens or recipients, but as neighbours, kin, and co-builders of a just society. We need more than restored funding—we need restored trust. That means honouring lived experience, enabling choice, and redesigning systems that currently reinforce exclusion. The Gospel does not promise a world without suffering. But it does promise that no-one should suffer unseen or alone. In Aotearoa today, that means ensuring equitable access to healthcare, housing, education, and community — not as acts of charity, but as marks of justice. When Jesus says, "Pick up your mat," he gives the man back his agency — and calls the community to carry the weight of shared responsibility. His healing act dismantles exclusion and creates space for belonging. Will we do the same? • Dr Graham Redding is the Douglas Goodfellow lecturer in chaplaincy studies at the University of Otago.
