Monday 11 / August / 2025
Muscat: The number of issues and reports received and monitored by the Oman Human Rights Commission during 2024 amounted to (1,006), including (47) complaints and (22) cases. (937) cases were monitored and human rights support was provided, covering various civil, political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, and developmental rights, in addition to the rights of vulnerable groups.
This came during a press conference held today by the Oman Human Rights Commission, in which it reviewed its most prominent efforts during 2024, its role in monitoring and receiving complaints, responding to regional and international reports, and its internal and external activities and events.
Dr. Rashid bin Hamad Al Balushi, Chairman of the Oman Human Rights Commission, said that the Commission continues its national role in protecting and promoting human rights, based on its mandate and the values and principles emphasized by the Basic Law of the State and the international conventions to which the Sultanate of Oman has acceded. He emphasized the Committee's commitment to continuing to develop its working mechanisms and strengthening its role as an independent national institution seeking to disseminate a culture of human rights and consolidate the values of citizenship, justice, and human dignity in the Sultanate of Oman.
Al Balushi explained that the Committee's vision is to be an effective national platform for supporting, promoting, and protecting human rights among all segments of society and its institutions. Its mission is to instill a culture of human rights among individuals and institutions in society, promote its practice, and work to protect it in accordance with local and international principles and legislation.
The Commission Chairman expressed his satisfaction with the progress made by the Royal Oman Police in its commitment to promoting and protecting human rights, and in the services provided to inmates and detainees during field visits to the Central Prison to ensure that these services are provided to an appropriate standard. These services include health, education, legal, sports, training, entertainment, and hobbies.
He pointed out that press freedom is one of the fundamental pillars of freedom of expression. In this context, the commission noted that the Sultanate of Oman has advanced 18 places in the 2024 Press Freedom Index, issued by Reporters Without Borders, compared to 2023. The index assesses 180 countries annually and uses (5) criteria to assess press freedom, including the political context, the legal framework, the economic context, the social and cultural context, and safety.
Al Balushi explained that the "National Human Rights Strategy" project will be launched on December 10th. It covers various aspects and seeks to promote and protect human rights in the Sultanate of Oman, in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law of the State, the international conventions and agreements to which the Sultanate of Oman has acceded, and applicable laws.
He pointed out that the Commission contributed to providing legal support for (937) cases it received during this year, assisting their owners in settling their cases in accordance with the correct legal frameworks, utilizing the procedures, measures, and regulations contained in applicable laws and international agreements that the Sultanate of Oman has acceded to or ratified. This support covered civil and political rights, economic, social, cultural, environmental, and development rights.
Dr. Rashid bin Hamad Al Balushi, Chairman of the Oman Human Rights Commission, concluded his remarks by saying that the Committee responded to a number of international governmental and non-governmental reports, in addition to questionnaires, including Amnesty International's annual report on the human rights situation in the Sultanate of Oman for the year 2022/2023, the US annual report on the human rights situation in the Sultanate of Oman for the year 2023, and the report issued by the US Department of State on combating human trafficking in the Sultanate of Oman for the year 2023, which addressed the status of combating human trafficking in 2022.
