4 days ago
Dialogue session promotes Omani women's role in governance
Muscat – A dialogue session held in Muscat on Monday brought together 70 Omani women from the State Council, Majlis A'Shura, municipal councils, government institutions and women's associations to discuss ways to enhance female leadership and political participation.
Organised by Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), the event aimed to enhance women's presence in leadership and decision-making roles, particularly within electoral bodies. It also sought to raise public awareness on the importance of women's involvement in governance and build confidence among aspiring female leaders.
Participants discussed a range of tools – legal, economic and media-related – to support women in leadership, and reviewed the role of civil society in empowering women to engage more actively in political processes.
Suad al Yazidi, Director of Women's Affairs Department at MoSD, said the ministry continues to implement targeted programmes to support female leadership. 'We have introduced several initiatives and training programmes, including meetings with female leaders and capacity-building efforts for women interested in serving in the shura and municipal councils,' she said. Suad al Yazidi, Director of Women's Affairs Department at MoSD
Among the ministry's flagship initiatives is 'Tasmu', launched in partnership with Royal Academy of Administration, which is training 50 Omani women for leadership positions across various sectors.
The dialogue featured two sessions. The first addressed strategies for success and included working papers on leadership, strategic communication, the role of women in the private sector, and legal frameworks that support their participation in elections. Quds bint Abdullah al Riyami, a political science student at Sultan Qaboos University
The second session focused on contributions of civil society and the media in promoting women's political engagement. Discussions included the experience of Omani women in Majlis A'Shura and examined how organisations and the media can help raise awareness and support female candidates.
Quds bint Abdullah al Riyami, a political science student at Sultan Qaboos University and former member of the Arab Parliament for Children, spoke about her early exposure to parliamentary work. 'My experience as the youngest member of the Arab Parliament for Children gave me the confidence and tools to aspire to leadership roles,' she said.
The event was part of Oman's wider efforts to build a supportive environment for women's advancement and to ensure their effective contribution to national development and governance.
