OHRC organises workshop on preparing first National Human Rights Strategy
The workshops' opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Sa'eedi, Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs.
The three-week workshops seek to furnish grounds for drafting the first comprehensive national human rights strategy in the Sultanate of Oman.
They aim to identify major challenges, explore opportunities and ensure that the strategy's goals are implementable and measurable in the short and long terms.
The workshops, which will run until 3 July 2025, aim to review the current situation in the Sultanate of Oman in terms of civil, political, economic, social, cultural and environmental factors. They represent one of the basic stages for preparing a 'national strategic document' featuring precise and realistic understanding of the human rights situation in the Sultanate of Oman.
The workshops aim to assess the progress made in all areas of human rights by analysing legal, regulatory and procedural aspects. They focus on the clarity of governance and monitoring the value of indicators.
The workshops will help formulate realistic and time-bound strategic objectives that can be used to develop future executive plans and establish performance indicators, evaluation and follow-up. -ONA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
14 hours ago
- Observer
A Gateway to Sustainable Gulf Renaissance
In the corridors of Al Bustan Palace in Muscat, during the recent Oman-Saudi Knowledge Dialogue Forum, the gathering was not merely a stage for speeches or immature consumption of ideas; it was a laboratory for shaping the future. Around 70 Saudi universities joined forces with Omani higher education institutions, research centres, and innovation companies to forge a shared Gulf vision rooted in education and scientific research. This partnership is anchored in centuries-old ties of religion, language, and tradition, now extended by emerging geopolitical realities: Oman, gateway to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean; Saudi Arabia, the dominant land corridor and the Middle East's largest economy. The opening of the Empty Quarter border crossing reduced transport time between Al Duqm and Al Riyadh from days to mere hours, marking the birth of a commercial artery fuelling both nations' visions. The forum resembled a grand workshop for engineering the future, where political will aligned with academic enthusiasm. Oman Vision 2040 and Saudi Vision 2030 met on common ground: a shared belief that nations rise not from the depths of their oil fields, but from the cultivation of intellect. Investing in people yields returns that oil cannot during crises. This partnership draws strength from three key streams: cultural proximity rooted in shared religion and language; geopolitical synergy; and ambitious economic diversification focusing on hydrogen energy, AI, and advanced industries. These ambitions reflect in national plans, aiming for non-oil sectors to contribute 50 per cent of Saudi GDP and over 90 per cent of Oman's GDP by mid-century. This forward-looking vision naturally extends to education and research. The forum resulted in a concrete road map: launching extensive student and academic exchanges, joint research in renewable energy, biotechnology and AI, and establishing innovation hubs in Al Duqm and NEOM. However, realising a knowledge economy demands robust data infrastructure and legal frameworks. The two nations must adopt unified academic standards, enable seamless mobility of graduates and build a digital platform linking research to industry, ensuring that local innovation remains local. Education remains the cornerstone of national goals. Oman Vision 2040 includes raising university enrolment, updating curricula to stimulate creativity, and targeting top 20 rankings in global innovation indices by 2040. Similarly, Saudi Arabia is expanding its R&D infrastructure, increasing the number of universities and research centres and aiming to reduce graduate unemployment by 2030. The academic cooperation seen in the forum reflects urgent, mutual needs. The involvement of numerous Saudi and Omani universities opened the door to joint research, talent exchanges and innovation centres. Studies show that institutional twinning can double research output within a few years, translating into strong industrial and economic outcomes. The partnership should not remain confined to academia; there is potential for industrial collaboration, such as a tech-industrial corridor between Oman's Dhofar and Saudi Arabia's Jazan, focused on clean tech, food, and pharmaceuticals. To ensure implementation, a high-level coordination workshop is necessary, followed by a joint follow-up unit publishing semi-annual progress reports. A joint innovation fund should also be created, with proportional contributions from both sides to support projects for the first five years. Ideally, this bilateral project could scale to include other Arab countries. A proposal for an Arab Scientific Council, gathering ministers of education and research, could align regional priorities. Lessons from the EU show that successful coordination across diverse cultures and languages is possible with a centralised mechanism. The Oman-Saudi partnership is a seed to be nurtured by shared heritage, driven by strategic vision, and fertilised by digital knowledge tools. Let the Knowledge Dialogue Forum not be a mere display of ambitions but the first step in an active plan, of joint research networks, academic exchange, and innovation financing that values minds and shelters ideas. In this complex age, those who remain on the sidelines of knowledge are doomed to follow. Only those who lead the global scientific movement will shape history, not merely record it.
Times of Oman
14 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Oman, Bulgaria discuss ways to enhance bilateral relations
Sofia: The Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Bulgaria today held a round of official talks in the city of Sofia, with the aim of enhancing bilateral relations. The Omani side was headed by Sayyid Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, while the Bulgarian side was led by Rosen Dimitrov Zhelyazkov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria. The session dealt with various aspects of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and explored new vistas for developing partnerships in economic, cultural and scientific fields, with the prime objective of exchanging joint benefits and realizing common interests. During the talks, the two sides also exchanged views about regional and international issues of common concern. They expressed their keenness to foster diplomatic coordination, hold regular consultations and exchange visits to meet their shared goals and values that call for consolidating pillars of peace and security and achieving international justice, peaceful coexistence and prosperity among nations. The session was attended by Yousef Ahmed Al Jabri, the Sultanate of Oman's Non-resident Ambassador to Bulgaria, Munthir Mahfoudh Al Mandheri, Head of the Europe Department at the Foreign Ministry, and other officials from the two countries.
Times of Oman
14 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Oman hosts virtual preparatory meeting for 7th Session of UN Environment Assembly
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Environment Authority, hosted a joint virtual preparatory meeting in preparation for the 7th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 8-12 December 2025. The meeting was attended by Dr. Abdullah Ali Al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority and Head of the session. The meeting discussed the latest developments regarding the draft ministerial declaration for UNEA-7, which aims to advance sustainable solutions to global environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. Participants also reviewed a draft guide for the mechanism of submitting proposed resolutions by member states, presented by the UNEA-7 Secretariat, along with guidelines for draft resolutions. The meeting examined a concept note on organizing a dedicated day for multilateral environmental agreements to enhance their role and improve coordination among relevant stakeholders. Additionally, the session addressed organizational arrangements and proposed topics for leadership and stakeholder dialogues during the assembly, aimed at fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange. The draft communication strategy for the session was also reviewed, which seeks to highlight the assembly's themes and raise awareness of environmental issues. On the sidelines of the meeting, a virtual dialogue session was held with representatives of major groups and stakeholders to gather their input on ongoing preparations, ensuring inclusive and representative decisions that reflect civil society perspectives. This meeting marks a significant step toward strengthening international cooperation to address environmental challenges and ensuring the success of UNEA-7. The session was attended by several ministers, ambassadors, members of the assembly's Bureau, the Bureau of the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the UN Environment Programme, and Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the Programme.
