Muscat: Under the auspice of Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the Oman Human Rights Commission, in cooperation with the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, on Tuesday kicked off the Business and Human Rights Forum from July 8 to 9 seeking to enable persons with disabilities to access employment opportunities in private sector institutions and to establish the principle of equal opportunity and non-discrimination in employment.
The initiative also seeks to link the forum's outcomes to practical approaches that contribute to supporting the rights of persons with disabilities within the labour market and help achieve the national target for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in employment.
The forum was organised as part of national efforts to consolidate the principles of justice and transparency in the workplace and promote a culture of human rights within business policies and practices. This is in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and is consistent with the Oman Vision 2040, which places increasing importance on building a sustainable economy based on empowerment, participation and responsibility.
Dr Rashid bin Hamad al Balushi, Chairman of the Oman Human Rights Commission, said, "Holding such forum is a practical translation of the Oman Human Rights Commission's mandate to raise awareness, educate, provide advice and monitor the implementation of relevant international agreements. It also falls within the framework of consolidating a culture of human rights in the business environment and opening windows for constructive dialogue between the public and private sectors, civil society institutions, academic institutions and international organisations."
The forum's objectives included promoting multilateral dialogue among stakeholders in the business environment, expanding awareness of international human rights principles, and sharing national and regional best practices in this field. It also aimed to discuss emerging challenges facing the integration of human rights into business policies. Successful institutional experiences were also reviewed, and effective ways to address challenges and align local legislation with international standards were proposed. This was in addition to highlighting the role of judicial institutions, legislative initiatives and civil society initiatives in supporting this trend.
Eng Faisal bin Abdulaziz al Shanfari, a member of the Labour Market Committee, stated that the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry seeks to align with Oman's long-term approach to cooperating with regional and international partners to protect and promote human rights in line with international obligations.
In a statement to the Observer, Dr Jamal bin Eid al Khadouri, a member of the Oman Human Rights Commission and representative of the Ministry of Health, said: "The forum is an important initiative to focus on business and human rights in various institutions, with regard to preserving the rights of companies, individuals, society and the environment. The importance of the forum reflects Oman's interest in individuals, especially people with disabilities, in the workplace.
Damilola Olawuyi on behalf of the United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights, stated: “We are pleased to see that through this forum, Oman is starting an important conversation in this regard. Given Oman’s climate leadership and prominence as one of the first countries in the Arab region to ratify the Paris Agreement; one of the first to adopt a Net-Zero Strategy; and a strategic hub for entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, we are convinced that if Oman leads in this area, other countries in the region and beyond will draw lessons and follow suit.” The forum's activities are divided into five main sessions held over two days, during which sixteen scientific papers will be presented, covering various topics, including national legislation, the role of the judiciary, business policies, and field experiences from a number of companies and academic institutions.
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