16-03-2025
Arab Human Rights Day focuses on ‘Right to Food'
Muscat – The Omani Human Rights Commission (OHRC), in collaboration with the Foreign Ministry, marked Arab Human Rights Day on Sunday with a symposium held at the Diplomatic Club in Muscat.
The event, held under the patronage of H E Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali al Harthy, Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, was centred around the theme 'The Right to Food'.
The symposium aimed to raise awareness of the right to food as a fundamental human right, in accordance with international and regional human rights conventions. It also highlighted Oman's efforts to promote food security through national policies and its humanitarian contributions, especially in relation to the Palestinian people.
Saleh Yahya al Maskari, head of the Department of Global Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, stressed that the right to food is not only about food availability but also about its diversity, affordability, and accessibility.
'The worsening food crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by the closure of crossings and the denial of humanitarian aid, represents a clear violation of international conventions and humanitarian law, which mandates that basic needs be provided to civilians without obstruction,' he said.
He added that Oman continues to prioritise food security and is advancing efforts to strengthen the system in line with Oman Vision 2040, focusing on resilient agri-food systems capable of meeting global challenges.
Dr Rashid bin Hamad al Balushi, Chairman of OHRC, noted that the observance of Arab Human Rights Day reaffirms Arab nations' commitment to upholding human rights principles.
