How UNICEF's new rep in Oman will promote children's rights

Energy Thursday 19/October/2017 10:52 AM
By: Times News Service
How UNICEF's new rep in Oman will promote children's rights

Muscat: Lana Al Wreikat has submitted her credentials to the Secretary General of Foreign Affairs as UNICEF Representative to the Sultanate of Oman.

As UNICEF Representative, Al Wreikat will provide strategic leadership in the design and implementation of programmes for the well-being of children and women in Oman, as part of the Government of Oman-UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation.

In welcoming Al Wreikat, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Al Busaidi, Secretary General of Foreign Affairs, recalled the long standing cordial relationship between the Omani Government and
UNICEF and briefly discussed the country programme’s areas of focus that support the development and well-being of children in particular. Al Wreikat commended the Sultanate’s continuous efforts and significant strides made in education, child health and women empowerment.

UNICEF’s work in Oman began in 1971 through the Gulf Area Office in Abu Dhabi, followed by the opening of an office in Muscat in 1982.

Al Wreikat will continue to develop the country programme for the years 2017-2020 established by her predecessor, which currently focuses on three areas: Integrated Early Childhood Development (IECD), Inclusion of Children with Disabilities (CwD) and Protection of Children from Violence.

Al Wreikat is UNICEF’s ninth representative to the Sultanate of Oman and brings with her over 20 years of international experience having served in Africa, Middle East and Central Asia regions.

Prior to this assignment, she served as UNICEF Head of Office in Gaziantep, Turkey. Al Wreikat was also the Deputy Chief of the Regional Emergency and Humanitarian Unit in UNICEF’s Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) and was based in both Nairobi in Kenya and Johannesburg in South Africa from 2007-2013. She has also held various leadership positions within UNICEF in Iran, Tajikistan, Libya and Mozambique.