Muscat – H E Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali al Harthy, Undersecretary for Diplomatic Affairs in Foreign Ministry, met Uzra Zeya, US Undersecretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, at the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

During the meeting, they discussed aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two countries and ways to enhance these. Views were also exchanged on cooperation in the field of combating human trafficking. The meeting was attended by a number of officials from both sides.

According to the US Department of State, Undersecretary Uzra is travelling in the region, having been in Amman, Jordan from February 25 to 28 and will be in Muscat till Thursday.

‘In Muscat, Uzra will meet senior Omani government officials to deepen bilateral partnership on global issues, including humanitarian support and countering trafficking in persons,’ the US State Department stated.

Undersecretary Uzra also met Sheikh Humaid bin Ali al Maani, Deputy Chairman of Omani Human Rights Commission, separately.

During the meeting, they discussed aspects of joint cooperation between the commission and the authorities concerned with human rights in the United States.
Sheikh Humaid explained the commission’s work, its new work system issued by Royal Decree No 57/2022, its role in receiving and monitoring cases, and its efforts in raising awareness and educating about human rights to the US official.

For her part, Undersecretary Uzra discussed a number of issues related to human trafficking, labour and women rights, and other issues related to the work of her department in the field of human rights, and expressed her willingness to enhance cooperation in everything that would serve and promote human rights.

In Amman, Undersecretary Uzra met several government, civil society and humanitarian leaders to reinforce the strategic US-Jordan relationship. She highlighted the US support in excess of $2.2bn to Jordan for hosting refugees, countering narcotics, and respecting freedom of expression.

While in Amman, she discussed the human impact of conflict in the region, and US and Jordanian efforts to provide relief to victims of the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey.