Committed to protecting human rights, says OHRC chairman

The Sultanate of Oman has always upheld the fundamentals of human rights. In cooperation with the Royal Oman Police (ROP), the Oman Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has executed various projects that underline the importance of protecting the rights of individuals and society as a whole, according to Shaikh Abdullah bin Shuwain al Hosni, Chairman of OHRC.

During the OHRC visit to the Detainees’ Centre in Bausher Police Station on Monday, Al Hosni said upholding human rights always topped OHRC’s activities.

“We always thrive to uphold human rights, and the rights of children predominate the activities of the Commission. Protecting children from negligence and abuse is of paramount importance and is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) and Omani Women’s Associations (OWA).

The detention centre was visited by a team from the OHRC on Monday, which included a number of members who met with detainees held for various crimes as well as part of legal procedures pertaining to some ongoing trials. This is within the framework of the field visits carried out by the Committee to the detention centres of the ROP as decided at its first meeting held on Sunday.

The OHRC team listened to the detainees at the centre, got acquainted with the cases for which they were arrested, and exchanged conversations with them about the legal and human rights which are guaranteed by the nation to them, foremost of which is their right to contact their families, and to appoint lawyers to follow up on their cases.

Colonel Abdul Hakim bin Khalid al Hosani, Assistant Commander of the ROP, Muscat Governorate and Leiutenant Colonel Ahmed bin Rashid al Kasbi, Officer of the Bausher Police Station, and a number of officers and employees of the station were part of the team.

“We appreciate the initiatives taken by the ROP in providing the best services to the detainees, and the efforts to reduce the number of detainees at Bausher Police Station is commendable’’, he said.

Oman Human Rights Commission was formed as a national platform to help promote and protect human rights across all segments and institutions of society in accordance with the national legislation and international laws.

Human rights violations can be reported on toll-free number 80077444 round the clock.

“OHRC also keeps a tab on the steps taken by the government to enhance human rights through joining international conventions and treaties and adapting its local legislations with their provisions’’, he added.

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