{"id":8167,"date":"2012-08-20T08:10:41","date_gmt":"2012-08-20T15:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/humanium.org\/en\/?page_id=8167"},"modified":"2025-12-06T16:08:44","modified_gmt":"2025-12-06T16:08:44","slug":"oman","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/middle-east-north-africa\/oman\/","title":{"rendered":"Children of Oman"},"content":{"rendered":"

Children of Oman<\/h1>\n

Realizing Children’s Rights in Oman<\/h2>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

The Sultanate of Oman, which celebrated \u201cThe Year of the Child\u201d in 2012, is one of the countries that have made the most progress in terms of life expectancy and quality of life over the last 40 years.\u00a0 A National Human Rights Commission has been set up and children have been able to benefit from it in areas of health<\/a> and education<\/a>.\u00a0 However, despite other improvements and bills aimed at increasing the protection of children, in reality many problems still exist.<\/p>\n

A real problem in the dissemination of information on children\u2019s rights<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Legislation in the Sultanate increasingly takes into account the interests of the child and improves his protection in various areas.<\/p>\n

Nevertheless this is not sufficient to bring about change to traditions nor to make children\u2019s rights a reality.\u00a0 The Sultanate has not yet allowed for several declared laws to become effective, such as the ban on child labour<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Moreover, shortcomings in the dissemination of information concerning rights of the child, notably in rural areas, have a considerably greater impact on the daily lives of children.<\/p>\n

Finally, there is no real monitoring of adherence to these laws by the Sultanate and very few NGOs or associations are present in the country or report on this matter.\u00a0 The lack of data collected on many subjects affecting the children of the most vulnerable groups in society remains of great concern.<\/p>\n

Violation of girls\u2019 rights<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even if many restrictions and quotas have been suppressed, discrimination<\/a> towards girls persists.<\/p>\n

Family law<\/h4>\n

\"\"It would appear that there are many inequalities between boys and girls in family law, notably around inheritance.<\/p>\n

Concerns have been raised, notably by the Committee on the Rights of the Child concerning the fact that no inheritance is to be passed onto girls where the parents are divorced.<\/p>\n

Female genital mutilations<\/a><\/h4>\n

Excision is also practised within some families, in accordance with tradition, although the government tends to ignore the existence of such practices.<\/p>\n

Marriage of children<\/a> and sexual exploitation<\/a><\/h4>\n

In 2005, 17% of young Omani women aged between 15 and 19 were married<\/a>.\u00a0 Even though the legal age today is 18 years, customs and traditions mean that, in reality, young Omani girls marry before they reach this age.<\/p>\n

People trafficking<\/a>, for sexual exploitation<\/a> and domestic work<\/a> occurs both within Oman and passes through its borders.\u00a0 Cases of fake or forced marriage are often recorded there.<\/p>\n

For example, young girls from South-East Asia are married temporarily then sold as servants and forced into prostitution in Oman.<\/p>\n

Child abandonment<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/strong><\/a>The Sultanate of Oman does not provide the same level of protectio<\/a>n to children born to unmarried parents as it does to others.\u00a0 They are marginalised from society.<\/p>\n

To give birth out of wedlock is a crime and leads mothers with unwanted children to avoid getting in touch with competent authorities out of fear of legal sanctions against them.\u00a0 These children are therefore often abandoned<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, child adoption goes against the principles of the Sultanates\u2019 Islamic law.\u00a0 So, it is often state institutions that take control of these children who will never be able to grow up within society nor be fully integrated into it.<\/p>\n

Statelessness and the right to an identity<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Children born of an Omani mother and foreign father do not have the right to an Omani nationality.\u00a0 This practice discriminates against women and children.\u00a0 Moreover, if the child does not obtain the nationality of his father, he becomes stateless<\/a> and will not be entitled to the same protection<\/a> as an Omani child.<\/p>\n

Child abuse<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Despite a formal ban on corporal punishment at school, custom allows for it to be used where useful to \u201craise\u201d the child.<\/p>\n

\"\"Children are thus still often subjected to poor physical or psychological treatment<\/a>, even sexual abuse<\/a>, within institutions of the state as well as within their own family.<\/p>\n

This violence is the result of attitudes deriving from traditions and the absence of dialogue between adults and children.\u00a0 The population is not informed of the negative impact of such treatment on children and their development, nor made aware of non-violent means of discipline and education.<\/p>\n

Malnutrition<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Despite efforts made by the Sultanate in recent years, problems of malnutrition and iron deficiencies continue.\u00a0 Even with a GDP of $18,000 per person in 2010, 9% of children under 5 are moderately to seriously underweight and 10% moderately to seriously physically underdeveloped over the period 2006-2010.<\/p>\n

Right to health<\/a> and education<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Children living in rural areas and children of foreign nationals are subjected to discrimination <\/a>in terms of access to healthcare and education. This is despite the efforts of the Sultanate to allow access to education in remote areas, including for nomadic peoples.<\/p>\n

The question of disabled children is equally worrying.\u00a0 The country has attempted to integrate them into ordinary schools and also specialised institutions.\u00a0 However, these establishments are situated in or around the capital, rendering access difficult and thus not allowing for real integration of disabled children.<\/p>\n

Finally, the population is not sufficiently well informed about the HIV\/AIDS virus.\u00a0 Child sufferers, the majority of whom already find themselves orphaned by the disease, are very often marginalised and given up by their families.<\/p>\n

Child labour<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"Despite support by the Sultanate for instruments of protection against child labour<\/a>, it still persists unofficially in some sectors such as agriculture, fishing or family businesses.<\/p>\n

Children often end up doing work that is dangerous for their health<\/a> and their personal safety.<\/p>\n

At the same time, they suffer restrictions on their freedom of movement<\/a> and excessively long working days.\u00a0 They may be undernourished and be the object of physical and sexual abuse<\/a>.\u00a0 Young girls employed as domestic help constitute the most vulnerable category of workers.<\/p>\n

A typical example of child labour<\/a> in Oman is at camel races where children were often employed.\u00a0 The Sultanate today asserts to have eradicated this practice, but the lack of inspections calls this claim into question.\u00a0 Most notably foreign children are still used as jockeys because of their light weight and are therefore more profitable.<\/p>\n

Protection of children from dangers posed by traffic<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Oman, one child dies every four days on the roads.\u00a0 Many are seriously injured, even disabled for life due to the very high road accident rate for the population density and the number of children who drive without a licence.<\/p>\n

Justice for minors<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Even though bills are apparently in the process of being drafted, not only to establish special tribunals to hear cases to prosecute children but also to increase the minimum age of criminal responsibility, many children have been condemned to serve sentences in prison.<\/a><\/p>\n

Complaints concerning physical and sexual violence<\/a> are not sufficiently registered or investigated by the police service.\u00a0 The staff are not trained well enough to manage this type of situation and the population is not encouraged to report attacks.<\/p>\n

Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Despite the undoubted interest the Sultanate has in the protection of the environment, water pollution (mainly due to effluents from the oil industry), the problem of waste management and air pollution all have an impact on the future prospects of Omani children.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

Stories of children<\/h3>\n

“I feel sorrow for our children in Oman, for the relative lack of educational facilities, intellectual stimuli and learning opportunities.
\n[…]
\nA lack of public parks (but an overload of empty mosques in almost each and every little neighbourhood) in Oman similarly results in kids dangerously riding bikes in streets filled with crazy drivers in fast cars”<\/p>\n

Najma al Zidjaly<\/p>\n

Among the cases reported to child protection services, neglect is by far the most commonly observed child abuse, followed by physical and sexual abuse.
\n[…]
\nThe country could promote a public education campaign that openly discuss the issue of child abuse and how it can be prevented or avoided. Such a campaign should target both parents and children.
\n[…]
\nThe ministry is playing its role; for instance, they have opened a Child Help Line which both children and adults can access, but this help line may not be sufficient to address calls from all the children who need help in the entire country.
\n[…]
\nTo make this better, teachers, nurses and day-care workers need to be educated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lamk al Lamki<\/p>\n

Add a testimony<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n

Child in the Culture of the Country<\/h3>\n

From birth<\/strong>, a small piece of softened date is given to the child (a Muslim tradition).\u00a0 The call to prayer is whispered in the right ear and a prayer of protection in the left.<\/p>\n

A party is then organised to mark the occasion in the family home, during which it is customary to place money in the blankets of the newborn.\u00a0 The child is bathed and its eyes are made up with kohl.<\/p>\n

In the past, holy places were chosen to bury the umbilical cord.<\/p>\n

An old custom called for the planting of a date palm tree for each male newborn, which would then become the personal tree of the child.\u00a0 Its continued growth would assure life of the child who would always have this tree to feed from.<\/p>\n

Seven years after birth, the hair of the child is shaved, weighed and the equivalent of its weight in money is given to the parents.\u00a0 Two animals are sacrificed for a boy, only one for a girl.\u00a0 The child then receives his name.\u00a0 Little boys are circumcised at hospital.\u00a0 The family convenes for a meal called Nasika.<\/p>\n

Traditions differ between regions.<\/p>\n

At Musca<\/strong>t, for example, three customs involving the child can be cited:<\/p>\n

Houl-Houl<\/strong>, a celebration of the child\u2019s first birthday to which neighbours and friends of the family are invited.\u00a0 The child is dressed in green and must look for chickens and sweets spread about by the mothers whilst the other children stroke the child\u2019s head three times.\u00a0 Money is given to the children.\u00a0 Finally, everyone convenes to eat and drink coffee.<\/p>\n

Elkoronchowa<\/strong> takes place on the 25th night of the month of Ramadan, during which children clap stones together and ask for sweets from inhabitants on their way home.\u00a0 This festival is very popular with children.<\/p>\n

Finally, Ettamina<\/strong> or Taymina<\/strong>, which celebrates the end of the apprenticeship of the Koran.\u00a0 The child reads a song to the schoolmaster to thank Allah.\u00a0 Children then take coffee at each other\u2019s home and finish with a meal.<\/p>\n

Concerns have been voiced around the wearing of a khanjar knife<\/strong> by little boys at these celebrations. \u00a0In principle, the child is only allowed to wear the dagger (a national symbol of pride) if it is not used as a weapon and in the presence of the child\u2019s father.\u00a0 It remains thus a cultural symbol.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Children of Oman Realizing Children’s Rights in Oman The Sultanate of Oman, which celebrated \u201cThe Year of the Child\u201d in 2012, is one of the countries that have made the most progress in terms of life expectancy and quality of life over the last 40 years.\u00a0 A National Human Rights Commission has been set up […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":2769,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8167","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nChildren of Oman - Humanium<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Sultanate of Oman is one of the countries that have made the most progress in terms of life expectancy and quality of life over the last 40 years.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.humanium.org\/en\/middle-east-north-africa\/oman\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Children of Oman - 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