HE Mohamed Al Nasor, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Region at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights commended the human treatment of prisoners at the Central Prison that he and the accompanying UN delegation saw. He also praised securing regular visits for the prisoners’ families and providing monthly support for the prisoners’ families during their imprisonment period in the Central Prison, in addition to subsequent follow-up on the released persons after their imprisonment period to ensure their integration into society and going back to practice their normal life which reflects the interest and care of the Sultanate of Oman to apply international laws and taking into consideration the human rights.
During the visit, the UN delegation was acquainted with the facilities of the prison and wandered in the cells and different sections of the prison. The members of the delegation saw the services provided to prisoners closely, met some prisoners, and talked to them.
The delegation saw the training workshops through which the prisoners produce chandeliers, gifts, potteries and other handicrafts, in addition to halls allocated for lectures and the prison’s studio. The delegation got acquainted with the cultural and sports activities provided to the prisoners as well as books provided to them by the library of the Central Prison which works with electronic deposit and borrowing system.
The delegation also walked around the hospital of the prison and saw the services and health care provided to prisoners. The delegation was also introduced to the way of dealing with the patients including patients of emergency cases and chronic diseases.
At the end of the visit, the UN delegation members expressed their thanks and appreciation to the Directorate General of Prisons at the Royal Oman Police indicating the willingness of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to hold training courses for those in charge of correction and rehabilitation to apply the foundations and standards pertaining to the prisoners in accordance with the universally agreed principles
Furthermore, the UN delegation expressed its satisfaction with the existing cooperation between the OHRC and the Directorate General of Prisons regarding the rights of the prisoners and allowing the specialists of the Commission to conduct field visits according to the requirements of the applicable international laws concerning the rights of the prisoners. The delegation also expressed satisfaction with the existing communication channels and conveying the requests of the prisoners to the commission as well as enabling the Commission to visit the prisoners who want to meet it.
Upon arrival at the Central Prison in Sumail, the delegation of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights accompanied by a team from the OHRC was received by Colonel/ Ali Hassan Al-Balushi, Director General of Prisons, a number of Police Officers, and non-commissioned officers of the General Directorate of Prisons. The delegation listened to a brief presentation on the Prison, its facilities, and the services provided to the prisoners which translate the vision of the Directorate General of the Royal Oman Police.
During its visit, the delegation was accompanied by Saeed bin Salim Al- Nu’mani, the OHRC Secretary General, Ahmed bin Nasser Al Rashdi, Director of Monitoring and Complaints Receiving, Salim bin Seif Al-Shoili, the Director of the Commission Chairman’s Office and Salim bin Khalfan Al Roshdi, Head of Awareness and Education Department.
