Muscat: The work of Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) witnessed remarkable development over the past year in the effectiveness of its monitoring and complaint-receiving system. This included expanding its reach to various segments of society and diversifying and developing the available reporting mechanisms.

According to Oman News Agency, the Commission intensified its field visits and continuous follow-ups with the relevant authorities, reflecting its ongoing efforts to enhance the necessary protection for individuals and activate its various roles in accordance with its legal mandates. In a statement, the Commission confirmed receiving and monitoring 1,479 human rights-related cases during 2025. The Commission addressed these cases by verifying the facts and tracing the legal and administrative pathways for each case. This was done to ensure the achievement of solutions that eliminate their root causes and contribute to resolving them in accordance with national laws and international covenants.

The Commission worked on studying the incoming cases to analyze their dimensions and identify their direct foundations. This resulted in providing legal advice and consultations to the individuals involved, directing them to the available official mechanisms to pursue their cases before the competent authorities. Further, the Commission also continued its role in monitoring, receiving, and following up on complaints and reports in coordination with the relevant authorities. This involved making practical efforts to facilitate access to justice and litigation guarantees, as well as monitoring the rights of inmates and detainees, and healthcare provisions within detention facilities. Furthermore, it monitored issues related to the right to a decent living, social protection, labor, education, health, housing, and a healthy environment.

The Commission paid particular attention to protecting children from harmful practices, especially concerning the exploitation of children on social media platforms. It pushed toward enhancing awareness and developing reporting and prevention channels in a manner that safeguards the best interests of the child and protects their privacy and safety. During 2025, the Commission followed up on the issuance of several Royal Decrees granting and restoring Omani citizenship to 329 applicants. The Commission also monitored the issuance of Royal Orders for the release of a group of inmates from the Central Prison. The total number of inmates who were granted the Royal Pardon during 2025 reached approximately 2,115, comprising both citizens and foreigners convicted in various cases.

The Commission emphasized that these steps reflect a practical commitment to human rights principles, the preservation of the right to citizenship, and the enhancement of belonging, as well as family and societal stability. Furthermore, the implementation of the Royal Pardon serves as a practical embodiment of the concept of "restorative justice," which opens the doors for rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Regarding labor rights, the statement mentioned that the Oman Human Rights Commission conducted field visits to labor gatherings and accommodations. These visits aimed to assess labor housing conditions based on safety standards, the availability of first aid, adequate space, fire-fighting requirements, health facilities, and cleanliness levels. This was in fulfillment of its mandates to monitor labor rights and ensure the provision of a decent residential environment for them. During the visits, the Commission also listened to the workers' remarks and inspected the facilities and services prov ided.

The statement reported that the Commission visited the inspection unit of the Security and Safety Services Establishment, where it reviewed the unit's mandates, work mechanisms, procedures followed, and the services it provides. It affirmed the level of quality and efficiency in the establishment's performance, reflecting its commitment to professional standards. The Commission indicated that it received a number of complaints and reports that were resolved in coordination with the relevant authorities. Additionally, it facilitated the provision of designated areas enabling inmates to meet their families, as part of its efforts aimed at strengthening family ties and improving the psychological well-being of the inmates. These initiatives included organizing recreational and cultural events, and allowing private family meetings in a suitable environment that contributes to enhancing family cohesion.

Furthermore, exhibitions of the inmates' products were held to display and highlight the skills and capabilities acquired by both male and female inmates through workshops and training programs offered within the prison. The Commission clarified that these efforts fall within the framework of supporting inmates' families and contributing to their rehabilitation and preparation for positive reintegration into society upon their release. The Commission mentioned receiving and monitoring several complaints via social media platforms regarding the attainment of the social protection benefit. For those classified as eligible categories, they were enabled to receive the benefit in accordance with the provisions of the Social Protection Law, in coordination with the Social Protection Fund.

The Commission reported receiving a complaint regarding the provision of a safe educational environment, due to the impact of maintenance and restoration works in some schools. The Commission followed up on the matter within its jurisdiction with the Ministry of Education. Consequently, the Ministry issued a circular to the educational directorates emphasizing the importance of managing these works in a manner that ensures the safety of school attendees and avoids disrupting the educational process. The circular also stressed the necessity of monitoring the companies executing the maintenance works in the schools undergoing maintenance, according to the approved technical requirements and standards, while adhering to the applicable preventive measures to achieve the highest levels of safety in the school environment.

Oman Human Rights Commission affirmed that the opening of the Muscat Recovery Center for providing addiction treatment and rehabilitation services comes as a qualitative addition within the integrated health services system. It aims to provide rehabilitation and recovery services for patients with addiction, psychological and neurological injuries, and other conditions requiring long-term rehabilitative care. The Commission noted that the center is the first specialized government facility for addiction rehabilitation and recovery, representing an integrated umbrella for therapeutic services for addicts, starting from the detoxification stage, through the rehabilitation stage, and reaching the recovery and psychological support stage.

The Commission stated that the establishment of the Sohar Recovery Center, in partnership with the private sector, contributes to providing specialized medical, psychological, and social services for the recovery of addiction patients and their reintegration into society in a way that enhances the quality of life. This is considered an important aspect of the qualitative development in the provision of health services. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health has worked on issuing specific legislation concerned with employing Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and artificial intelligence, and has begun applying them to delicate surgeries in the field of ophthalmology.

The Commission drew attention to the progress made in reducing appointment waiting times for clinics and surgeries during the recent period, which is considered among the significant achievements in the health services provided by the Ministry of Health. It emphasized that the announcement of the National Health Policy of the Sultanate of Oman is among the most important achievements on a strategic level in the health sector, representing a roadmap for achieving an integrated, equitable, and sustainable health system capable of providing its services to the entire population.

The Commission confirmed its monitoring of some families exploiting children on social media platforms for purposes related to fame or financial gain. It pointed out that this constitutes a form of abuse and harmful practice, especially when repeated or employed to achieve specific goals at the expense of the child's best interests. The Commission noted its keenness to enhance child protection through coordination with the competent authorities, contributing to helping parents mitigate the negative impacts associated with social media. The continuation of these practices threatens the psychological and social stability of the child and may expose them to bullying, abuse, or extortion by peers or followers.

The statement explained that the Commission has intensified awareness and educational campaigns on children's rights, in coordination with the Ministry of Education and relevant civil society organizations. This is alongside the printing and publishing of numerous awareness booklets and intensifying digital campaigns to reduce the negative impacts of child exploitation on social media. The Commission has submitted its views and proposals to the relevant authorities to establish legislative frameworks and specific legal provisions that criminalize the digital exploitation of children and ensure their comprehensive protection.

The Commission indicated that the implementation of the "Values and Belonging" program covered 16 wilayats across 9 governorates, with the participation of more than 2,000 direct beneficiaries, including children, students, parents, teachers, specialists, and other groups concerned with child protection. The Commission also graduated the first batch of internationally certified trainers in the field of human rights and is preparing to graduate the second batch, thereby enhancing the sustainability of capacity building through a professional approach.

The Commission mentioned that the guide on the rights of the workforce in the private sector was provided in six languages: Arabic, English, Urdu, Hindi, Bengali, and Filipino. This aims to enhance the reach of human rights messages to broader segments of the workforce. Regarding international cooperation, the Commission strengthened its presence through multiple contributions of parallel reports, responses to thematic questionnaires, and professional participations, supporting the transfer of expertise, the improvement of measurement tools, and the development of evidence-based national methodologies. Additionally, it interacted with UN and regional mechanisms by submitting its parallel report for the Universal Periodic Review (Fourth Cycle) and providing contributions related to technical cooperation, capacity building, combating racism and discrimination, and combating human trafficking. This is in addition to holding consultative and professional meetings with international entities and organizations, hos ting UN delegations, and expanding partnerships in specialized topics such as labor rights, the rights of persons with disabilities, and business and human rights, which contributes to developing tools and methodologies and exchanging expertise and best practices.