MoSD, Unicef launch guide to boost child protection
The guide serves as a comprehensive and practical reference aligned with international standards. It is specifically designed to assist frontline workers — including social workers, teachers and healthcare providers — by unifying key concepts, simplifying referral procedures and enhancing coordination among stakeholders. The ultimate goal is to enable rapid and effective interventions that ensure the protection of children and the creation of a safe and nurturing environment for every child in Oman.
Sayyidah Maani bint Abdullah al Busaidy, Director-General of Family Development at the Ministry of Social Development, stated that the guide represents a strategic milestone in integrating national efforts to combat child abuse, neglect and exploitation. It empowers professionals to act with greater efficiency and aligns with both the Child Law and Oman Vision 2040, reinforcing the country's commitment to child welfare.
Unicef Representative in Oman, Sumayra Chowdhury, underscored the collaborative spirit behind the guide, noting that it symbolises not only guidance but a shared promise to take humane and decisive action whenever a child faces danger. She emphasised that this initiative reflects the strong, ongoing partnership between Unicef and the Government of Oman in building inclusive and responsive child protection systems.
Haitham bin Salem al Khaduri, Director of the Family Protection Department, described the guide as a national framework that consolidates Oman's obligations under both local and international child protection laws. It supports the development of a unified case management system, enhances specialist capacity and contributes to community awareness, policy reform and violence prevention.
As part of its implementation strategy, the Ministry of Social Development and Unicef will roll out a series of workshops and training sessions across Oman's governorates. These efforts aim to ensure the guide's effective and consistent use while reinforcing professional practices grounded in children's rights.
The Child Protection Guide is a testament to Oman's dedication to nurturing its youngest citizens, safeguarding their rights, and laying the foundation for a brighter and more secure future.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
Oman's National Autism Center earns landmark accreditation
Muscat: The National Autism Center (NAC) has achieved a historic milestone as it becomes the first organisation in the Arab region to receive full membership status with Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board (QABA), a prestigious U.S.-based authority in the field of applied behavior analysis. Officially accredited by QABA, the Ministry of Social Development, NAC's recognition underscores its leadership in specialised training and certification for autism services. The membership grants NAC exclusive standing to administer and oversee professional development programs, including certifications such as the ABAT (Applied Behavior Analysis Technician), QASP-S (Qualified Autism Services Practitioner-Supervisor), and QBA (Qualified Behavior Analyst). This accreditation signals NAC's readiness to build international partnerships and strengthen its infrastructure for behavioral services, positioning it as a central hub for QABA's expansion efforts across the region.
Observer
3 days ago
- Observer
New strategy to boost pharma investments
The Omani government has unveiled a new strategic policy aimed at attracting investments into the country's pharmaceutical sector, with the dual objective of strengthening drug security and reducing reliance on imports. Despite some recent gains, the gap between local pharmaceutical production and import dependency remains significant. As of end-December 2023, locally manufactured pharmaceuticals accounted for just 4.6% of total medicine purchases, with imports making up the remaining 95.4%. However, national production capacity has shown encouraging growth — from a mere 1.8% in 2021 to 4.7% in 2022. According to Dr Hilal bin Ali al Sabti, Minister of Health (MoH), the new policy envisions the establishment of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities within economic zones, free zones, and industrial cities, in line with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Speaking to Duqm Economist, the newsletter of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), Dr Al Sabti said these zones offer a highly conducive environment, supported by advanced technical infrastructure, efficient regulatory frameworks, and integrated support services aligned with international standards. 'Industrial cities and special economic and free zones are attractive investment environments due to the financial incentives and regulatory facilitations they offer, including customs and tax exemptions. These advantages help lower production costs and enhance competitiveness,' he noted. Currently, eight pharmaceutical factories are operational in Oman: five fully integrated drug production facilities, two plants producing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for human medicines, and one facility focused on secondary packaging as an initial step in the production chain. While these factories are spread across industrial cities and free zones, the majority are located within industrial cities, which offer more advanced infrastructure and integrated services — factors that contribute to improved manufacturing quality and faster market availability. 'Measures are in place to support pharmaceutical factories in obtaining international accreditations such as GMP and ISO. Oman has a clear vision to position itself as a regional hub for pharmaceutical exports, in line with Oman Vision 2040,' the Minister stated. Dr Al Sabti affirmed that the Ministry is actively encouraging foreign direct investment (FDI) in the sector and promoting strategic partnerships with leading international pharmaceutical companies to facilitate technology transfer, localise production, and build domestic expertise. To this end, the Ministry is working to streamline registration and licensing procedures and is supporting public-private partnerships to foster an integrated and sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem. The aim, he said, is to drive innovation and ensure the availability of high-quality, efficient medical products. A key element of the new strategy is the fast-tracking of registration processes for locally manufactured medicines, supported by technical assistance throughout the regulatory cycle and accelerated quality testing to ensure safety and compliance. 'Recognising the strategic importance of this sector for national health security and self-sufficiency, the Ministry has established a robust regulatory framework in line with global standards. Through the Drug Safety Centre, we provide continuous technical support to manufacturers during planning, implementation, and licensing phases to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. Locally manufactured medicines are given priority in the registration and evaluation process,' Dr Al Sabti added. The Ministry also welcomed projections of strong growth in Oman's pharmaceutical sector, underpinned by a pipeline of strategic projects targeting local production of sterile medicines, oncology drugs, and vaccines — key therapeutic categories that are central to achieving national drug security.
Observer
4 days ago
- Observer
National Autism Centre first in the Middle East to receive QABA membership
Muscat, July 2 Represented by the National Autism Centre, the Ministry of Social Development joined the QABA board (Qualified Applied Behaviour Analysis Credentialing Board) as the first full member in the Arab region. The step reflects the Sultanate of Oman's commitment to improving the quality of services provided to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Full membership is granted to qualified institutions in recognition of their professional practices and integrated infrastructure of behavioural services. It offers the members priority in joining international partnerships and advanced training, with chances of upgrading to the status of 'accredited supervisory bodies' or 'approved staff field training institutions'. The announcement comes as part of the first phase of QABA's strategic expansion in the Arab world, which aims to enhance cooperation with official bodies, academic institutions, and specialised centres in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The National Autism Centre is a leading centre providing diagnostic and therapeutic services for children with autism spectrum disorder in the Sultanate of Oman. It operates under the supervision of the MoSD, with a continued commitment to implementing international best practices. Dr Nadia al Ajmi, Director of the National Autism Centre mentioned that full membership in QABA is an important step in improving and developing rehabilitation services for people with autism spectrum disorder, as well as empowering and developing specialised personnel in the field of autism. 'We are proud to be the first centre in the Middle East to receive this membership, which will undoubtedly have a significant impact on improving services," she said. Full membership is granted to institutions in recognition of their professional level and behavioural services infrastructure. They also have priority in international partnerships and advanced training, with the possibility of becoming an accredited supervisory or field training provider for staff. This membership is expected to contribute to raising the efficiency of autism professionals in the Sultanate of Oman and pave the way for training and qualifying local specialists according to international standards. It will also attract internationally accredited personnel to the professional field in the Sultanate of Oman and establish regional research and development partnerships between the National Center and international bodies.
