The Sultanate, represented by OHRC joined the world in marking the International Human Rights Day, which falls on 10 December each year. The celebration focuses on the definition of basic rights in the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, which is considered among the most important UN documents related to these rights. The document, which was drafted by specialists in law and culture representing different groups of countries in the world, was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948 in Paris.
The United Nations views national human rights institutions as an effective partner in promoting and following up the implementation of international human rights conventions at the national level. The Sultanate‘s creation of OHRC reflected its belief in the importance of those rights. OHRC has strengthened its activities at the external level during this year, through its communication with human rights organizations, and its participation in meetings, conferences, workshops, and regional and international training courses. The most of these events were conducted through video conferences due to the Corona virus. OHRC is an active member of many regional and international organizations, including the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, the Asia Pacific Forum, the Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions, and the Permanent Arab Committee for Human Rights.
Among OHRC’s responsibilities is to monitor and follow up on human rights observations raised by foreign governments, international organizations and NGOs in the Sultanate. During the current year, OHRC responded to a number of international reports that dealt with some issues related to human rights in the Sultanate, after coordinating with the competent authorities to verify the information and observations contained therein.
OHRC also submitted its second “parallel report” to the UN Human Rights Council. National institutions submit reports parallel to the national report submitted by state governments within the universal periodic review mechanism before the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva every four years. The report includes the status of human rights and ways to promote and protect them. The Sultanate’s government will present its UPR before the Human Rights Council early 2021.
In its report, OHRC recommended the importance of continuing to strengthen cooperation and coordination between OHRC and concerned government authorities in all matters that serves human rights in the Sultanate. It should be noted that the Sultanate has fulfilled (14) of the (17) sustainable development goals of the United Nations.
On the other hand, OHRC received during this year many questionnaires from the United Nations Special Rapporteurs, who are independent experts affiliated with the human rights members of the United Nations. These questionnaires are related to studies and research that contribute to enhancing knowledge and understanding of all situations, challenges, developments and best practices carried out by countries of the world in areas related to the protection of human rights. The special rapporteurs should present the results of the studies in special reports to the United Nations General Assembly. These reports will be discussed during its periodic sessions, to make recommendations to the governments and relevant institutions to take advantage of them.
In this context, OHRC responded to these reports and clarified the nature of laws, programs and practices related to human rights issues in the Sultanate. Such clarifications provide realistic and accurate information about the nature of human rights conditions in the Sultanate. This included the questionnaire of the Special Rapporteur on issues of violence against women, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association, and the Special Rapporteur on Minority Rights.
On the local level, OHRC continued to follow up on the human rights situation in the Sultanate this year through monitoring and receiving reports, field visits, following up what is published and broadcast by the media, and social networks. The 65 complaints received by OHRC this year covered civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights. OHRC has followed up on all humanitarian issues reported to it and maintained coordination with the competent authorities to find appropriate solutions to them.
