Oman – IMM situation

IMM name: Oman Human Rights Commission

IMM type: National Human Rights Institution

CRPD ratification date: 15 November 2008

IMM legal framework: Oman Human Rights Commission establishment 15 November 2008

Oman ratified the CRPD on 15 November 2008. Oman Human Right Commission establishment adopted on 15 November 2008, assigned the mandate to the National Human Rights Institution. The IMM is a National Human Rights Institution has quasi-jurisdictional competence. and is part of a monitoring framework consisting of another or other entities. Oman Human Right Commission monitors the observations of foreign governments and international governmental and non-governmental organizations in relation to human rights in Oman and coordinates with the concerned authorities to take required actions. It also provides advice for recommendation to concerned authorities in Oman in relation to human rights and freedoms and prepares reports related to these issues. Moreover, it monitors human rights violations in the country and provides assistance in resolving and settling them. It also proposes an annual plan that includes necessary measures to disseminate human rights culture. The commission consists of 14 members as the following: a member of the state council, a member of the Shura council, a member of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a member of the general federation of Oman Workers, a member of the legal profession, three member of civil associations, members from other directions - ministry of foreign affairs - ministry of interior affairs - ministry of social development - ministry of justice - ministry of manpower - ministry of civil service.

The mandate of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism extends to all parts of the State. The IMM is mandated to follow up and respond to international reports related to human rights in Oman and the national center for Statistics and Census. The IMM is also mandated with promoting, protecting, and monitoring the rights of persons with disabilities through education, outreach, media training and capacity building, investigation and resolving complaints, monitoring activities and reporting, and monitoring the implementation of the CRPD. It includes the following functions:

• Promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, including through education, outreach, the media, training, and capacity building
• Protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, including by receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints, or by mediating conflicts and monitoring activities and reporting
• Monitoring the implementation of the CRPD

The IMM undertakes/has undertaken activities such as developing a plan to monitor, evaluating policy, offering legal and policy advice to ensure compliance with the CRPD, submitting alternative reports to the CRPD Committee and other relevant human, as well as cooperating with other domestic mechanisms, rights treaty bodies or international human rights mechanisms. It includes the following activities:

• Developing a plan to monitor the implementation of the CRPD by the State
• Evaluating policy, legislative and administrative compliance with the CRPD
• Offering legal and policy advice to ensure compliance with the CRPD and other relevant international human rights obligations of the State
• Initiating or undertaking research studies on the rights of persons with disabilities
• Receiving and considering complaints or reviewing the outcome of complaints received by the NHRI
• Promoting the rights of women and girls with disabilities in legislation and policies, including in the disability and gender-equality legislation and programmes
• Focusing monitoring of the rights of women and girls with disabilities and reporting
• Undertaking investigations on the rights of persons with disabilities;
• Submitting alternative reports to the CRPD Committee and other relevant human rights treaty bodies or international human rights mechanisms
• Participating in the preparation of the State party’s periodic reports to the CRPD Committee
• Cooperating with other domestic mechanisms, as appropriate, such as the Parliament, the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI) and Equality Bodies, with the aim to reinforce human rights monitoring and reporting at the national level
• Liaising with the focal point(s) designated within government under Article 33(1) for matters relating to the Convention’s implementation
• Liaising with National Mechanisms for Reporting and Follow-Up on matters relating to the implementation of the CRPD

Participation of persons with disabilities in the monitoring process:

The IMM’s membership is composed of persons with disabilities and representatives of organisations of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, women with disabilities and their representative organizations participate in the membership and managerial functions of the independent monitoring mechanism or framework. Electing and appointing mandate holders are based on: (a) expertise; (b) experience in the field of the mandate; (c) independence; (d) impartiality; (e) personal integrity; and (f) objectivity.

The monitoring activities in which persons with disabilities or their representatives’ organizations have been involved include monitoring of public policies and legislation concerning persons with disabilities. The persons with disabilities attend the decision-making process of the Independent Monitoring Mechanism - they have a voice and have the right to vote. Persons with disabilities monitoring their rights may submit findings or allegations of human rights violations to the Independent Monitoring Mechanism. In addition, persons with disabilities identifying themselves as self-advocates are invited to join specific monitoring activities by the Independent Monitoring Mechanism. The Independent Monitoring Mechanism established a formal structure for involving persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in the monitoring process through the national committee for the Welfare of persons with disability.

Note: If you wish to rectify or provide more information regarding your IMM, please contact ohchr-CRPDIMM@un.org