The Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) joins the international society in the celebration of the Human Rights Day on December tenth of each year, the day on which the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was ratified by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is one of the most important principles and united nations projects in the field of Human Rights. Accordingly, the International organization invites all its member States, Human Rights organizations, civil society institutions and individuals to celebrate this occasion. Also, United nations organizations and bodies organize through its offices various events and celebrations worldwide, and winners of United Nations Human Rights awards are announced in such events.
The Universal Human Rights Declaration is considered to by an international human rights agreement that includes preambles and 30 articles stipulating the general human rights guaranteed to all people. These are humanitarian rights applicable to all human kind, as well as it is considered to be inherited and inalienable rights that includes a wide array of political, civil, social and cultural rights. Also, articles of the Universal Human Rights Deceleration are used as reference in drafting national constitutions/ legislation, as well as regional and international agreement/ treaties. The Universal Human Rights Declaration is the most translated document; it was translated to over 400 languages around the globe, and used by recognized national organization/ commission to culture the people of their rights and duties.
In the Sultanate of Oman, the OHRC printed and distributed the Universal Human Rights Declaration to various authorities, civil society institutions, and individuals. Also, the OHRC uploaded this document on its website in the Arabic and English language, assuring its adherence and faith in the Declaration content, and supporting its significant humanitarian principles.
We must note that the OHRC has acquired an accredited nation classification by the United Nations’ Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, and is considered to be an active member in the agendas and meetings of the GANHRI; the matter that promotes its competencies practices in the national, regional, and international levels.
The OHRC is also a member in Asia Pacific Forum, a principal member in The Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions, and a member in the Arab Permanent Committee on Human Rights affiliated to the League of Arab States.
In assurance of the its adherence to its regional and international duties, the OHRC participated this year in several events and congresses mostly held via video conference technology (remotely) due to the repercussions of Corona Virus Pandemic (Covid-19). The OHCR also attend the events of the 8Universal Periodic Review) presented by the government of the Sultanate of Oman before the Human Rights Council in Geneva at the beginning of this year; in such event, the United Nations Member States present its reports once each four years, with the participation of the National Human Rights Commissions as observers. During the review, the most significant Human Rights policies undertaken by the United Nations Member States are presented, as well as the extent of adherence to the international agreements and treaties which the relevant State ratified, joined, or signed. Moreover, the presentation of the States’ efforts in promoting the rights of Women, Children, Handicapped, Elders, Labor, and other most vulnerable groups of the society are presented during the review.
In the same context that implies further harmonization of the international efforts in the field of Human Rights, the OHRC has participated this year in several regional and international meetings and congresses which were attended by representatives of The Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions, the GANHRI, Arab League Human Rights Department, the ESCWA, the OHCHR, the United Nations Development Programme, and the European Union.
Meetings and congresses held this year targeted the cooperation with senior executive officers in the Human Rights institutions, promote professional knowledge and presentation of strategic plans, support of cooperative and shared knowledge, exchange of expertise and best practices in the field for promoting and protecting Human Rights, and management of National Human Rights Institutions.
During these meeting, the OHCHR role was defined, as well as the expertise exchange and how to benefit from the experiences of National Human Rights Institutions. It was also presented the promotion of the implementation of United Nations Guidelines, the global action plan of the GANHRI with regard to the Civil Space and Human Rights defenders, promoting gender equality, combat discrimination against women, and promoting the right to sexual and reproductive health for women and girls.
In the context of promoting partnership and cooperation with the Human Rights regional and international institutions, the OHRC employees participated this year in training courses that targeted the awareness of Paris Principles, competencies of the National Human Rights Commissions, and the tasks such Commissions undertake to promote and Protect Human Rights. Such Training courses also define the role of the said Commissions in awareness and education, building capacities, defining reports types, how to activate means to monitoring and receiving reports, and the relevant regional and international mechanisms.
The said training courses included promoting Human Rights knowledge and understanding, promoting the awareness and application of guidelines and mechanisms, and determining the appropriate means for planning and education in the field of Human Rights.
Through its external and internal activities, the OHRC assures its continuous keenness to support regional and international efforts, its adherence to the noble international principles, and participation in the human Rights Day which assures Human Rights principles and urges its application.
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