Universal Periodic Review Working Group – 37th Session

Universal Periodic Review of the Sultanate of Oman

Statement by Australia

21 January 2021

Thank you, [President/Vice President]

Australia welcomes the human rights reforms Oman has implemented since its last Universal Periodic Review that have enabled significant improvements in women’s workforce participation. Australia notes, however, that women in Oman still suffer from discrimination in many areas of family law. Australia also notes the steps Oman has taken to improve the rights of migrant workers, but that foreign workers are still exposed to exploitation and abuse. Australia is concerned about reported cases of harassment and detention of journalists and critics of the government, and mistreatment of detainees.

Australia recommends that Oman:

1. Implement further reforms that improve women's economic empowerment and workforce participation, as well as reforms that eliminate discrimination against women in matters of family law.
2. Implement legal reforms to eliminate constraints on the peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly.
3. Implement further reforms to the ‘kafala’ system to protect the rights of foreign workers.
4. Establish a moratorium on imposing and carrying out the death penalty, as a step towards its complete abolition.
5. Ratify and fully implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

[190 Words]