Muscat – Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) handled 1,479 cases in 2025, expanding its monitoring, complaints and outreach activities as it stepped up oversight of issues ranging from workers’ welfare and child protection to healthcare, education and conditions in places of detention.

In a statement, the commission said it investigated complaints, verified facts and coordinated with relevant authorities to resolve cases in accordance with national laws and international conventions.

It also provided legal advice to complainants and guided them through official channels to pursue their cases. Its work covered access to justice, detainees’ rights, healthcare in correctional facilities, and issues related to housing, employment, education, social protection and the environment.

On labour rights, the commission carried out field visits to workers’ accommodation to assess housing conditions, safety standards, health facilities and cleanliness. It also met workers to hear their concerns and evaluate services provided by employers.

The report highlighted monitoring of prison conditions and rehabilitation programmes. According to the commission, complaints were resolved in coordination with the relevant authorities, while initiatives including family meeting facilities, cultural activities and exhibitions showcasing inmates’ work were introduced to support rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Among other developments monitored during the year were Royal Decrees granting Omani citizenship to 329 people and Royal pardons covering 2,115 inmates, both Omani and foreign nationals. The commission said these measures reflected the principles of citizenship, social stability and restorative justice.

Additionally, the commission followed up on complaints concerning school maintenance after concerns were raised over student safety, prompting the Ministry of Education to issue guidance requiring stricter supervision of maintenance work and adherence to safety standards.

In the health sector, the OHRC welcomed the opening of the Muscat Recovery Centre, the country’s first government-run addiction rehabilitation centre, and highlighted the establishment of the Suhar Recovery Centre in partnership with the private sector. It noted progress in reducing waiting times for clinics and surgeries, alongside the launch of Oman’s National Health Policy. The commission said it also expanded public awareness programmes, trained a new cohort of internationally accredited human rights trainers, published workers’ rights guides in six languages and strengthened engagement with international human rights mechanisms.

Warning against children’s exploitation on social media

Muscat – Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has warned against the growing exploitation of children on social media, saying some families are using children online for fame or financial gain at the expense of their rights and wellbeing.

The commission said such practices could harm children’s psychological and social development and expose them to bullying, abuse and blackmail. It called for better protection through closer coordination with relevant authorities and greater public awareness of children’s digital privacy.

The commission recommended tighter monitoring of social media content, particularly material published by influencers, alongside updated legislation and faster reporting mechanisms to address online abuse. It urged families to avoid sharing children’s personal information or photographs online and called for regulations to promote the safe and responsible use of social media by people under the age of 18.