Ashraf AboArafe
The governmental policies, plans and programs pursued by the Sultanate since the dawn of the blessed Renaissance in 1970 reflected the participation of woman in all fields. Omani legislations contributed to giving woman her rights and helped her play an important role in the development, beside man, and boost her national role in various fields of life as a key player in sustainable development. This is according to ONA report..
* Social Action!
In 2016, the Ministry of Social Development began implementation of the Social Action Strategy in coordination with the concerned authorities, with the participation of local and international experts and in cooperation with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which extends over ten years (2016-2025) and has been developed according to three guiding principles: empowerment, equity, and social integration.
* Legal Awareness!
The focus was on six themes in the strategy, including the family development related to the woman’s affairs sector. It includes developing her productive skills, enhancing her political and social participation, legal awareness to her and the challenges of working woman, in addition to following up the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Woman (CEDAW).
* Modern Renaissance!
The blessed Renaissance, steming from the civilized vision of the of the builder of the Modern Renaissance of Oman His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, has given great importance to Omani woman in all fields. Woman responded to this attention and contributed to the comprehensive development process.
* Family Life!
Through its various programs, the Ministry of Social Development seeks to develop the potential of woman, build her capacities and skills and give her opportunities to participate in development programs, enable her to participate actively in her family life and community affairs, plan and implement her programs and provide all forms of support and training.
* Equal Opportunities!
The Omani woman’s access to education, work and her participation in the various development fields contributed to the development of the understanding of the society groups of the work of women or stereotyping in specific jobs, such as agriculture, grazing or domestic work as in the past. Today, woman is employed in most jobs. Getting equal opportunities in basic and higher education and encouraging her to choose in various disciplines and colleges, both inside and outside the Sultanate, woman have achieved high rates in basic and higher education, as well as obtaining high ranks in jobs and in many specialized areas, which was male preserve.
* Rural Woman!
The combined report of the Sultanate’s second and third CEDAW reports in 2016 states that the Sultanate has been keen to pay attention to the situation of rural woman and has supported her various roles, including her work in the non-monetary sectors, as the work of rural woman is counted in the national product in the commercial records, municipal licenses and agricultural tenure cards for rural woman’s projects or issuing the same when she is engaged in production line projects (such as date factories and others).
* A major Symposium!
The Sultanate marks the Omani Woman’s Day on October 17th every year. The Ministry of Social Development organizes an official ceremony on this occasion, including holding a major symposium, presenting the experiences of Omani woman entrepreneurs and some woman’s affairs activities, launching a number of scientific studies on educational, economic and social aspects at the household level.
The figures of the National Center for Statistics and information on the qualitative composition of the Omani population indicate that there are 2.1 million Omani woman in 2016, and 41 per cent of Omani woman belong to the (0-17) age group, 23.6% belong to (18-29) age group.
* Civil Services!
Female employees in the government sector at the end of 2016 accounted for 41.5% of the total number of employees, while their share in the civil service sector was 47%. The percentage of females in the top and middle management jobs and direct civil service was 21%. Female employees in the private sector accounted for 24% of the total number of Omanis working in the sector. At the end of July last year, there were 59,144 female workers out of 236,708 Omani workers in the sector. The percentage of insured females at the end of 2016 and registered in the pension funds was 32%. The female beneficiaries of social security were 58%, 14% of them were divorced, 8% were widows and 3% were unmarried.
* Political Rights!
In the area of political participation, Omani woman have the right to exercise the political rights guaranteed by the national legislations. The law for the election of the members of Majlis A’Shura was issued by Royal Decree No.58/2013 indicating the conditions of election in the Council. In accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law of the State, woman has the right to put in for election or to elect without any conditions or restrictions that discriminate between man and woman. Women in the State Council represent 17% during the current 6th term and 1% in the 7th term of Majlis A’Shura2016-2020, and 3.40% in the municipal councils for the period 2016-2020.
* Discrimination against Woman!
The Sultanate joined the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Woman by Royal Decree No.42/2005. The Ministry of Social Development formed a committee to follow up the implementation of this Convention, represented by a number of government and civil authorities. In early 2016, the Sultanate submitted its second and third national report to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Woman (CEDAW), which was discussed during the 68th Session of the UN Committee for the Follow-up to UNCCD.
The Sultanate has protected woman from all forms of violence, including sexual violence, domestic abuse and sexual harassment in the workplace through a number of legislations, including the Labor Code.
* International Forums!
Omani woman participates in the representation of her country in international forums. There are many Omani women employees working in the diplomatic corps. They work in embassies of the Sultanate, including ambassadors in a number of countries. The Permanent Representative of the Sultanate to the United Nations, from April 2013 to April 2015. The representation of women in the diplomatic field witnessed remarkable development during the recent years 2011-2015. The number of women working in the Foreign Ministry reached about 219 employees, where women constitute 11%.
* Deplomatic Work!
Omani woman has held key positions in diplomatic work, such as ambassador and others. Omani woman working in all ministries and governmental bodies participate in delegations representing the Sultanate, in governmental committees at the international and regional levels, in conferences, seminars and other events. A number of women chair those delegations due to their senior positions in various fields.
* Volunteering!
In view of the role played by woman in the social sphere and her awareness of the culture of volunteering and her participation in the service of society, there are 4 centers for the development of Omani woman and 62 woman’s associations in all governorates of the Sultanate, where woman carry out her social, cultural and sports activities, and community service in general, according to its geographical locations, and according to the laws in this regard. The specialized NGOs provide programs and services for woman in accordance with the jurisdiction.
* Vital Role!
The studies confirm the success of the government’s plans to provide all opportunities for training, rehabilitation and education, out of its belief in the vital role of Omani woman in building the society and her significant contribution to advancing development. The indicators show that Omani woman are able to assume the national role entrusted to her. She excels in scientific, applied, health and sports fields, taking advantage of the royal support of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said by providing government programs aimed at empowering woman in all political, social and economic sectors.
