GCC inmates Week: wide effort to rehabilitate prison inmates

Efforts are being made to rehabilitate inmates in Oman who are not victims of circumstances and not serious criminals, according to a senior ROP official from the Oman Prisons Department.

Speaking to the Observer on the sidelines of the opening of the weeklong GCC Unified Inmates Week with the theme 'Let us give them hope and work' at the Mall of Oman, the official added that celebrations like this are part of the rehabilitation programmes.

"Helping the inmates lead a normal life after serving the jail term is paramount... nurturing and giving a venue to showcase their innate skills is part of the efforts to guide him to live a life of decency," the official added.

Hundreds of crafts and artworks in wood, cloth and metal are on display at the huge pavilion next to the Snow Oman in the Mall. The display allows the public to participate in the rehabilitation initiative by purchasing these paintings, sculptures, woven dresses, handmade Komma (Omani cap), pottery, ceramic and many more, thanks to the Training Department functioning in the Prisons.

Many of Oman's ministries and public authorities, including the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, are participating in the Unified GCC Inmates Week till Thursday.

Members of all GCC countries commemorate Inmates Day because prisons are fundamentally reformatory institutions

The Unified Gulf Inmates Week, observed in all Gulf countries from Sunday to Thursday, lists many events aimed at communicating with prison inmates and associating them with building a better future for themselves and society. The GCC-wide celebrations also highlight the role of government agencies and civil society organisations in reforming and rehabilitating inmates and providing support and assistance to their families.

Members of all GCC countries commemorate Inmates Day because prisons are fundamentally reformatory institutions that train and educate the inmates to qualify them for a better life and improved living conditions.

The inmates receive training in several subjects, including soft skills development, IT, and personality development, the medium of which is the English language, and they obtain training certificates that enable them to get jobs in public and private establishments.