Thursday 27 / June / 2024
Muscat: The The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Omani Human Rights Commission, joins the world in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which falls on 10 December.
The celebration of this occasion in various countries of the world comes to revive the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to renew the global consensus on the necessity of achieving international peace and security, and promoting and protecting human rights in all countries of the world.
The year 2023 is considered an exceptional year in the Omani human rights journey. For the first time, a Chairman of the Committee and his deputy were elected from among the non-government members in implementation of Article Three of the 2022 Committee Regulations, and after it was reconstituted in accordance with the Paris Principles.
During the year 2023, the Omani Human Rights Commission monitored and received communications and issues related to human rights from various groups of society, and helped settle and resolve them in cooperation and coordination with all concerned parties and institutions.
The Committee, until the beginning of December 2023, monitored or received 57 communications regarding issues that are at the core of its jurisdiction and responsibilities, and were represented in civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights.
The committee also received more than 424 issues from citizens and residents, and the committee provided consultation and legal opinions and directed them to the relevant authorities to follow up on them.
The committee also conducted many field visits in various governorates and wilayats, and included the central prison, detention centres, and workplaces in addition to field visits that were carried out based on reports submitted by individuals.
During the year, the Sultanate of Oman continued to promote and protect human rights. The Sultanate joined the Arab Charter on Human Rights, and this year the Social Protection Law and the Labour Law were issued within the framework of ensuring rights, Royal Decree No. (23/2023) was issued regarding the marriage of Omanis to foreigners, the School Education Law, and the Higher Education Law were issued.
Professor Dr. Rashid bin Hamad Al Balushi, Chairman of the Omani Human Rights Commission, said that this occasion comes in light of what is happening in the Palestinian territories, especially in Gaza, which is a crime against humanity, and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian norms stipulated by the United Nations. The killing of civilians, including children, the elderly, women, men, displacement of civilians, bombing of hospitals and schools, is not accepted by any custom or supported by any law, he added.
“Rather, it is a clear violation of the principles of human rights that must be respected in peace and war. This also comes in violation of Articles 5 and 6 of the International Criminal Court’s statute on Genocide crimes against humanity and war crimes.”
The Chairman of the Committee stressed the need for the international community to assume its responsibilities and obligations towards the Palestinian issue, and to quickly find solutions to achieve the hopes of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state, and to secure the humanitarian needs necessary for life for the Palestinian people, especially those besieged in Gaza.
Praising the permanent position of the Sultanate of Oman and its full support for the rights of Palestinians, he called for ending the occupation imposed on them, the right to establish their state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and implementing United Nations resolutions in order to achieve justice, peace and security for all.
