Within the framework of OHRC’s mandate and responsibilities, which is to follow up and respond to international reports related to human rights in the Sultanate, OHRC has followed up on the recent report issued by Human Rights Watch. The international report dealt with specific human rights issues in the Sultanate during 2020. Based on its follow-up and monitoring, OHRC would like to confirm that during the year 2020, the Sultanate has taken concrete and very important steps to promote human rights. His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq issued a number of Royal Decrees, the most prominent of which was the decree issuing the amendments of the Basic Law of the State. The Royal Decree emphasized ensuring freedoms, rights, human dignity, and equality between citizens in rights and duties, in addition to issuing a number of decrees that restructured the state’s administrative apparatus to keep pace with Oman’s 2040 vision and realize the aspirations of citizens.
OHRC has also followed up on other steps taken by the Sultanate’s government to promote and protect human rights, acceding to international conventions, and harmonizing local legislations with the provisions of such conventions. In this context, the Sultanate agreed in 2020 to accede to three international conventions related to human rights; Royal Decree No. (44/2020) was issued approving the Sultanate’s accession to the “International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance” (ICPPED), an international human rights document of the United Nations, aimed at preventing enforced disappearances defined in international law in addition to crimes against humanity. Royal Decree No. (45 / 2020) was also issued approving the Sultanate’s accession to the “Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment is an international human rights treaty, under the review of the United Nations, that aims to prevent torture and other acts of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment around the world. Royal Decree No. (46 / 2020) was issued approving the Sultanate’s accession to the “International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,” a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Member parties are committed to working towards granting economic, social and cultural rights, including workers’ rights, the right to health, the right to education, and the right to an adequate standard of living. The Sultanate has acceded to seven of the nine basic international conventions concerned with human rights.
As for the right to freedom of opinion and expression raised by the organization, OHRC did not observe the closure of any media channel during 2020, as alleged in the international reports.
With regards to foreign workers referred to in the organization’s report, OHRC followed up on what the Sultanate carried out during the period of the Corona Virus pandemic (Covid-19) and the efforts and care provided by the Sultanate’s government for all residents and workers, such as the facilities provided to those who have residence, visit visa, work permits or other visas expired. Foreign workers were not subject to any financial fines or legal proceedings.
On the other hand, OHRC followed up the measures taken for foreign workers to protect them from the Corona pandemic (Covid-19), including the amnesty of hundreds of prisoners and their return to their home countries through special flights, conducting (Covid-19) tests, and providing them with free treatment in all governorates of the Sultanate. In this regard, the American Atlantic Council Network praised the Sultanate’s plan to contain the Corona pandemic, describing it as “effective and impressive.”
The World Health Organization also valued the plans and efforts made by the Sultanate, and its keenness to use technology to control the Coronavirus pandemic for both citizens and residents. OHRC also monitored the Sultanate’s cancellation of the (No Objection Certificate), which was mandatory for any worker wishing to transfer from one employer to another. The move gives the foreign workers the freedom to move from one job to another without any restrictions.
As for women’s rights and gender equality, OHRC has followed up on the steps taken by the Sultanate, after its accession to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination against Women, and the participation of women alongside men to build the nation in all fields.
With regards to foreign domestic workers, OHRC is following up on the procedures that are taken by the competent authorities to protect their rights, including the Royal Oman Police, the National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, and others. OHRC followed the introduction of hot direct lines of communication with the relevant authorities, including OHRC. It also followed up the measures to provide domestic workers with shelter until the necessary legal action is taken to guarantee their right in accordance with the law.
As for the issue of homosexual sexual freedom, which Human Rights Watch referred to in its report, OHRC has previously responded to such issue. OHRC noted that the Sultanate, as it is the case with many countries of the world, is governed by the principles of religion, morals, and traditions. The Omani society does not accept such practices.
OHRC affirms that it always welcomes any communication or coordination with the Committee by Human Rights Watch or other organizations concerned with human rights, to obtain any information related to the reality of human rights in the Sultanate, so that the facts are conveyed accurately and honestly, and in a manner that serves the joint efforts to promote human rights.
